Canadian Solar Inc plans to invest a total of four billion yuan ($357 million) into a project in Baotou, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Oct 8, Baotou Daily reported on Oct 9.

The three-stage project mainly concerns the manufacturing of three-gigawatt silicon chips and 600-megawatt solar power components, and is to be established in the China-Germany (Baotou) Equipment and Manufacturing Industry Park. It will cover an area of 367 mu (24.5 hectares) for construction, with overall floorage of 100,000 sq km.

The project will create 3000 jobs and output value of four billion yuan ($357 million) once put into operation, and should help to facilitate the development of the photovoltaic industry in Baotou, Inner Mongolia.

Founded in 2001, in Canada, Canadian Solar Inc is a multi-national firm that manufactures solar PV modules and photovoltaic solar power systems.

Baotou is a manufacturing city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, with a population of 2.8 million. Earlier in 2009, Canadian Solar was granted rights to develop a 500-megawatt solar power plant in Baotou.