UPDATE 2-Japan's Rapidus mulls building chip factory in Hokkaido -TV Tokyo

(Adds local government comment, details, background) TOKYO, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Japan's state-backed microchip venture Rapidus, tasked to boost the country's competitiveness in advanced semiconductors, is considering building its first manufacturing plant in Hokkaido, northern Japan, TV Tokyo reported on Wednesday. Rapidus will likely formally decide on the new factory site as early as end-February, with Chitose, a city of approximately 100,000 people in southwestern Hokkaido, being a possible location, it said.

A Rapidus spokesperson said Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki would visit its headquarters in Tokyo on Thursday to propose building the plant in his prefecture, but that nothing had been decided on plant location.

A Hokkaido prefecture official said no preliminary talks had taken place between the local government and Rapidus on the new plant ahead of the governor's visit.

No one was immediately available for comment at the Chitose city hall.

Japan has said it will invest an initial 70 billion yen
($525 million) in Rapidus, a venture led by tech firms including Sony Group Corp and NEC Corp Rapidus told Reuters earlier this month that it would need about 7 trillion yen ($54 billion) of mostly taxpayer money to begin mass-producing advanced logic chips in around 2027. ($1 = 133.2700 yen) (Reporting by Mayu Sakoda, Kantaro Komiya, Kaori Kaneko and Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Toby Chopra and Bernadette Baum)

Reuters

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

off-the-wire

UPDATE 2-Japan's Rapidus mulls building chip factory in Hokkaido -TV Tokyo

By Reuters

Reuters

Reuters

Gold has a path to $4,000 as U.S. credibility crumbles - WisdomTree’s Nitesh Shah

Why gold revaluation charts put prices at $25,000-$55,000 if history rhymes, silver poised for breakout: Crescat Capital Strategist

Whether 145% or 10%, tariff uncertainty is enough to stop U.S. gold and silver imports, distort the metals market at all levels – Experts

Gold price plummets as U.S.-China trade relations thawing

Gold price down a bit amid better risk appetite

off-the-wire

UPDATE 2-Japan&apos;s Rapidus mulls building chip factory in Hokkaido -TV Tokyo

By Reuters

Reuters

Reuters

UPDATE 2-Japan's Rapidus mulls building chip factory in Hokkaido -TV Tokyo