Western Digital (WD), the world's second largest hard-disk drive (HDD) manufacturer, has assured Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of its intention to continue its investment in Thailand and retain employment here.

Since its business has not been affected by the world's economic recession, the US-based company sees no need to shed its existing 33,749 jobs in Thailand, according president and CEO John Coyne, who met with the Thai premier yesterday.

WD, which ranks only after Seagate Technology globally, reported total sales worth US$8.07 billion last year.

Founded in 1970, WD currently employs approximately 50,000 people worldwide.

Its manufacturing facilities are in California, Malaysia and Thailand and its design facilities are in southern and northern California, Colorado and Thailand.

The company won investment privileges from the Board of Investment in 2002 to produce HDDs and components under four projects.

Mr Abhisit has pledged to the US firm that the Thai government is ready to provide support for foreign investments and troubled investment projects in Thailand, and plans to deregulate investment regulations and ease related laws to improve the investment climate in Thailand.Mr Abhisit said the local electronics industry might contract 25 percent this year, as the world economic recession was affecting demand for electronic products in both automotive and consumer electronics.

The Electronics and Computer Employers' Association had earlier projected that Thailand's exports of electronic goods were likely to fall by 20-25 percent this year from last year's estimated 700 billion baht.

With operations in 2,200 factories countrywide, the electrical and electronics industries employ 587,000 people, accounting for about 10 percent of total employment in the industrial sector.