Hutchinson Technology Inc, a U.S. based company and one of the world's top three suppliers of hard-disk drives, has invested 4.3 billion baht (130 million dollars) in Thailand to open its first

factory outside the United States. According to the reports of Bangkok Post, Hutchinson president Kathleen Skarvan said the company chose Thailand to stay close to its clients, many of

whom have production facilities in the kingdom.

 New plant will be in Ayutthaya province, 90 kilometers north of Bangkok. Construction of the plant was scheduled to be completed by August with exports beginning before the end of the

year.

Thailand is one of the world's leading producers of hard-disk drives and other electronics. In 2009, Thailand's electronics exports amounted to 27 billion dollars, or 18 per cent of the country's

total exports of 152.5 billion dollars.

NHK International Inc, Magnecomp Corp, Seagate Technology, Western Digital Corp, Toshiba Corp and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies are the other major electronics suppliers that have

set up factories in Thailand. (With Input from Agencies)