China-based foundry Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) has landed an order for chips used to make insurance cards for sale in the China market, according to industry sources. The order, for a total of 40,000 IC cards, was placed by China Integrated Circuit Design Center (CIDC), a subsidiary of China Electronics Corporation (CEC).
Around 7.3 million social insurance IC cards were sold for 53 million yuan (US$7.6 million) in China in the first half of 2008, the sources estimated. The market holds growth potential, as the China government has launched a five-year stimulus package for IT sectors nationwide, the sources noted.
SMIC has become a new participant in supplying chips for the market, joining Shanghai Huahong NEC, according to the sources.
In addition, SMIC's partnership with Datang Telecom Technology & Industry Holdings has also granted the foundry a large order for handset chips thanks to China's aggressive push for its home-grown 3G wireless standard, said the sources.
The newly-secured orders will both be fulfilled at SMIC's mega-fab in Shanghai, the sources added.
SMIC declined to comment. According to earlier reports, the company has stated its intention to target the China government's economic stimulus package.
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