Chinese phone giant Huawei is set to expand its manufacturing facility in Ontario, Canada, by investing $210 million which would create 325 new jobs until 2019. It would be made up of 250 engineering and research positions and 75 marketing, sales and support jobs.

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The Huawei deal is part of the $966 million new investments that the Ontario trade mission, led by Premier Kathleen Wynne, secured in her one-week trip to China. The new investments are expected to create 1,800 new jobs across Ontario.

With Wynne in the trade delegation were representatives from Ontario firms and organizations that specializes in clean technology and science and technology. Also with the group were Ontario Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure Minister Brad Duguid and Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Minister Michael Chan.

Huawei has been in Ontario since 2008. After two years, the phone maker invested another $67 million to build its research and development center in Ontario where it performed experiments on 5G wireless technology.

Ontario, in turn, gave Huawei $65 million research and development tax credits.

Explaining Huawei's choice of Ontario for the location of its research hub, Huawei Vice President of Corporate and Government Affairs Scott Bradley said, quoted by Globe and Mail, "We feel the research climate in Ontario is excellent. The access to talent is excellent."

Bradley added, "The key thing for us in having a great relationship with the province of Ontario ... [is] it's helpful to building our brand in Canada."

During the trade mission, the Ontario delegates inked 26 deals and resulted in 12 collaboration projects between the Ontario province and research institutes and industry partners in China.

Wynne also had the opportunity to visit several landmarks in China such as the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.

Two other Canadian premiers also went on trade missions for their respective provinces at the same time. They were Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz and Quebec Premier Phillippe Couillard.

TagsOntario, china trade mission, Huawei, kathleen wynne