SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) – Lee Jae-yong, the de facto leader of the Samsung Group, embarked on a business trip to North America on Sunday that would aim to finalize a project to build a new factory for chipsets and hold talks on vaccines against the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) with Moderna Inc.
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According to industry sources, Lee is expected to visit Samsung’s artificial intelligence research center in Toronto first and then travel to the United States to finalize the 20 trillion won ($ 17 billion) project. to build its new semiconductor plant.
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Samsung is considering the cities of Taylor and Austin, Texas for its memory chip factory site.
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Lee is also expected to meet with figures in the semiconductor and ICT industries as part of efforts to strengthen Samsung’s global network.
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He also plans to travel to Boston to meet with executives from Moderna, the US pharmaceutical company that has signed a partnership with Samsung Biologics Co. to produce the Covid-19 vaccines in South Korea, to discuss issues related to vaccine supply.
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Prior to his departure from the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center, the vice president of Samsung Electronics Co. told reporters he “was planning to meet with various US partners” when asked about Samsung’s foundry investments.
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Lee has avoided commenting on whether or not he plans to convey the company’s opinion to US officials in connection with the Commerce Department’s request that major memory chip makers “voluntarily” submit business information to “increase marketability.” supply chain transparency ”.
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This is Lee’s first international trip since his release on conditions in August in a corruption case involving former President Park Geun-hye.
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It also marks Lee’s first trip to the United States in five years and the first overseas since his visit to Vietnam in October 2020.
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