This was disclosed yesterday by Intel's vice-president Mike Splinter and by the general manager of the corporation's project in Costa Rica, César Quiason, during the inauguration of the U.S. firm's production in this Central American nation.
The microprocessors are made in four stages, starting with the manufacturing of a silicon chip, followed by a selection process (to ensure the quality of the product), followed by assembly and then testing. It is the two last steps that were performed in Costa Rica for the first time yesterday.
The plant inaugurated yesterday is the first of the four which are part of Intel's A6/T6 project, which is expected to provide 3,500 to 5,000 jobs when completed.
The first stage, already operating, employs 985 workers, while another 1,000 will be hired next year for the second plant, which is expected to be ready by the end of 1998.
Large share
With the operation of this first plant, Costa Rica -- so President José María Figueres asserted at the inauguration -- will assemble and test 25 percent of the microprocessors made by Intel. He added that the figure will rise to 33 percent in the future.
Quiason remarked on the extensive cooperation of the Government of Costa Rica in the development of the Intel project.
The president elect of this Central American nation, Miguel Angel Rodríguez -- who is to be inaugurated on May 8 -- made a pledge to continue that cooperation, not only for Intel but also for other firms willing to invest here. He said that during his administration he would not hesitate to ask President Figueres to negotiate the arrival of new investments.
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