SMIC and Hubei Science & Technology Investment Group Sign Joint Venture Agreement in Wuhan

WUHAN, China, May 12, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 0981.HK) and Hubei Science & Technology Investment Group today announced the formal signing of a joint venture agreement to invest in and manage Wuhan Xinxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation's 12-inch wafer production line. This represents a new phase in the ongoing cooperation between SMIC and the government of Wuhan.

The National Development and Reform Commission, The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, China Development Bank, Hubei province and Wuhan city government officials, SMIC President and CEO David N.K. Wang and others were in attendance at the signing ceremony.

In October 2010, both parties reached a cooperation framework agreement, and have since continued to work towards a final agreement. After receiving high-level support from the central and Hubei province governments, and the approval of the board of directors of both companies, the joint venture agreement was officially signed today.

SMIC has been rapidly upgrading Wuhan Xinxin's production technology. 65nm logic process technology has already been transferred to Wuhan Xinxin's 12-inch production line, all manufacturing key performance indices have reached international standards, and customer qualification and pilot production have begun. This successful technology transfer will contribute to the development of the Wuhan fabrication facility into an advanced international foundry.

Wuhan Xinxin's 12-inch production line is running at full capacity, with increased high-end product output and enhanced profitability. The joint venture will prioritize corporate responsibility and profitability in its business development plans. It will primarily manufacture 65-45 nanometer integrated circuits, with a goal of achieving a production capacity of 45,000 wafers per month within five years. This fabrication facility will serve as a strategic component in SMIC's expansion plan, and will become a key contributor to the Chinese and global semiconductor industries as a reliable platform for high-end chip manufacturing.

SMIC will expand its cooperation with the city of Wuhan in areas such as training, chip design and industry supply chain improvements, to advance the economic development of Wuhan's "Optics Valley" and raise the level of the information technology industry in Hubei Province. It will be an innovative engine driving the strategic development of the East Lake Hi-Tech Zone into a National Innovation Model Area and the "Optics Valley of China."

About SMIC

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in Mainland China, providing integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35-micron to 45/40-nanometer. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and three 200mm wafer fabs in its Shanghai mega-fab, two 300mm wafer fabs in its Beijing mega-fab, a 200mm wafer fab in Tianjin, and a 200mm fab under construction in Shenzhen. SMIC also has customer service and marketing offices in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, and a representative office in Hong Kong. In addition, SMIC manages and operates a 300mm wafer fab in Wuhan owned by Wuhan Xinxin Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation.

For more information, please visit www.smics.com

Safe Harbor Statements

(Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)

This press release contains, in addition to historical information, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on SMIC's current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. SMIC uses words like "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "project" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks, both known and unknown, uncertainties and other factors that may cause SMIC's actual performance, financial condition or results of operations to be materially different from those suggested by the forward-looking statements, including among others risks associated with the press release, the current global financial crisis, orders or judgments from pending litigation and financial stability in end markets.

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