Huawei has announced a huge investment in research and development in New Zealand over the next five years.

The Chinese tech firm will spend $400 million in the next five years helping to start local research and development as well as supporting the construction of a cloud data center. According to Huawei’s Founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei, the company is looking for further investment opportunities in New Zealand because it shows open and fair trade environment and emphasis on developing new technology. 

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Huawei will be working with local partners to build a New Zealand Cloud Data Center as well as opening an innovation lab by the end of 2017. The said innovation lab will be strategically located at Victoria University of Wellington, where it will focus on the deployment of big data and Internet of Things (IoT) themed future technology that includes 5G.

Another innovation lab will be built Christchurch city to create local R&D partnership there as well. Huawei will also open a regional office in the country’s capital Wellington for local procurement and help businesses in the country which will be integrated into company’s global supply-chain network.

“The depth of the investment will touch many areas of the economy and open up global opportunities for New Zealand. The initiatives that Huawei is committing to will also help strengthen our research and development activity and capability building in the digital and technological world,” said Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges in a statement.

Huawei CEO Zhengfei has met New Zealand’s Prime Minister Bill English to talk about the investments ahead of a major Chinese delegation, which will be led by Premier Li Keqiang. The NZ Prime Minister will take advantage of the meeting by developing on the existing free trade agreement.

Moreover, the company would offer 100 undergraduates of New Zealand the opportunity to travel to China for technology and cultural exchanges over the next five years. 

TagsHuawei, new zealand, china, Research and Development, data center, innovation Labs, Huawei New Zealand