One of the prime reasons that Israel is known as the Silicon Valley of the Middle East is the location of three Intel factories in the Holy Land.

The company has been operating since 1974 in Israel, the forerunner of Siemens, H@P and many more multinational r&d centres. As 2013 draws to a close, it employs around 9,300 people and impacts indirectly on tens of thousands of other jobs. The three existing facilities – in Haifa, Jerusalem and Kiryat Gat – were set up with a combined investment of US$8.61 billion, of which the Israeli government contributed around 16%.

To put those numbers in perspective, Intel exported around US$4.6 billion in 2012. That was approximately 10% of the total exports from Israel.

So, what is the big deal about what Intel is achieving in Israel and what does that mean for possessors of computer hardware in nearly 200 countries around the globe? The answer is best summed up on Intel’s website:

In 2011, we witnessed the unprecedented success of the Sandy Bridge processor. Developed in Haifa and Yakum, it quickly became the fastest selling product in Intel’s history. At the same time, we developed the Ivy Bridge processor, the world’s first processor with 22nm technology. We also led the development of Cloverview, Intel’s upcoming processor for tablets and smartphones. Moreover, we reached mass production of the Cedarview processors for the next generation of netbooks.

Intel intends to continue its expansion plans. In September 2013, it absorbed most of the workers from Micron, a local manufacture of memory chips that had run into financial difficulties. And the parent company is now considering whether to set up a fourth facility in Israel (or in Ireland), where projected investment costs are expected to reach US$10 billion.

A world without Intel or Intel’s presence in Israel? Earlier this year, the esteemed scientist, Stephen Hawkings, boycotted an Israeli-sponsored conference with Palestinians. Fortunately, he did not reject the technology that drives nearly every moment of his life along with countless others.