It was limited options at first and then increased cost later, I speculate. New fabs are built in much better locations.
TSMC likely had to build in-country when they started and didn’t have other options. Chip fabs require some serious precision and those factories need specialized vibration resistant foundations. Hell, even Kodak had to build on a massive, specialized foundation and that was just for film manufacturing. (See Kodak factory tours; Smarter Every Day on YouTube)
That is just one example that I can think of, but long term cost and the willingness of friendly countries to host a foreign company, in that capacity, are what come to mind first.
It was limited options at first and then increased cost later, I speculate. New fabs are built in much better locations.
TSMC likely had to build in-country when they started and didn’t have other options. Chip fabs require some serious precision and those factories need specialized vibration resistant foundations. Hell, even Kodak had to build on a massive, specialized foundation and that was just for film manufacturing. (See Kodak factory tours; Smarter Every Day on YouTube)
That is just one example that I can think of, but long term cost and the willingness of friendly countries to host a foreign company, in that capacity, are what come to mind first.