Intel Corporation Chairman Craig Barrett applauded leaders in China for progress made in technology innovation and their commitment to education.
"China's focus on science and technology education has advanced the nation's competitiveness and attracted Intel's investment in world-class microprocessor assembly and test facilities in Chengdu and Shanghai," said Barrett. "A skilled and talented local workforce is a solid foundation on which to build businesses and develop new economic opportunities."
Barrett and local community leaders took part in the opening ceremony of Intel's first assembly and test plant in Chengdu, located in western China's Sichuan Province.
"The opening of this facility brings new manufacturing capabilities to China and further strengthens the country's ability to deliver products to the worldwide market," said Barrett. "Intel's commitment to China's technology industry has a 20-year history. The Chengdu facility significantly expands our 5,000-person employee base in China."
This first US$200 million Chengdu facility begins production, with a second advanced assembly and test facility scheduled to start production in 2007.
With its increased presence Intel also announced a program supporting local communities. Intel is extending the Intel Volunteer Matching Grant Program to China. For every 20 hours an Intel employee volunteers in a school, US$75 will be donated to the school by the Intel Foundation.
Funded solely through donations from Intel, the Intel Foundation works to strengthen engineering and computer science education, and increase participation in these fields by women and under-represented minorities, improve mathematics and science education for elementary and secondary students, and foster the effective use of computer technology in education.
"Intel employees in communities across the globe take a special interest in their children's schools," said Barrett.
"Through this matching grant program, employees are able to work with and mentor young people while at the same time raising funds that can help schools acquire new educational tools."
In addition to the matching grant program, Intel supports education development through a variety of programs. Marking the five-year anniversary of the Intel Teach to the Future program in China, Intel has trained nearly 600,000 teachers in 31 provinces to integrate technology into classrooms.
Intel has also provided after-school, community-based Intel Learn programs for almost 63,000 children to help them learn technological literacy, problem solving and collaboration skills and built an after-school technology learning center in Chengdu called the Intel Computer Clubhouse.
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