2024-02-09 14:52 update: 2024-02-12, 14:52
Photo EPA/Etienne Laurent
The Polish digitisation ministry has notified the competition watchdog of its plan to grant state aid to US tech firm Intel which will build a multi-billion-dollar chip plant in Poland.
In June 2023, the microchip giant Intel announced that it wanted to invest USD 4.6 billion in the construction of a semiconductor test integration plant near Wroclaw, southwestern Poland.
On Friday, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said in a statement that it had sent "a pre-notification to the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) regarding its intention to provide public aid to Intel in connection with the planned investment in Poland."
Once UOKiK issues a positive opinion, the ministry will send a formal request to the Council of Ministers to adopt a resolution consenting to granting the assistance, the statement added.
"We are consistently implementing a process that will result in one of the largest foreign investments in Poland related to key technologies," deputy minister of digital affairs, Dariusz Standerski, said as cited in the statement.
The state aid is conditional on the European Commission's decision authorising the granting of it, accepted by Intel, according to the statement.
The Intel plant near Wroclaw will be the largest greenfield project in Polish history and one of many European undertakings to reduce the continent's dependence on Asia in the face of an unprecedented semiconductor shortage.
The plant is expected to become operational from 2027 and create 2,000 jobs. (PAP)
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