Huawei will soon build a $350-million regional research and development center in Bangkok, Thailand.

This plan aims to serve small and medium-sized companies as well as start-ups in Thailand. It also wants to develop the digital economy and smart cities nationwide, starting with Bangkok.

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Thailand's deputy prime minister Somkid Jatusripitak stated that the government and the executives of Huawei have discussed a partnership between the Thai government and the Chinese company. The agreement also plans to help build up Thai agriculture and tourism.

During the deputy prime minister's visit to China earlier this week, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Huawei, the National Science and Technology Development Agency, and the National Innovation Agency on cooperation in several areas, such as IT training, technology transfers, and job creation, seeking to transform Thailand into a regional ICT hub.

Huawei has closed a three-year framework deal with the Science and Technology Ministry of Thailand. The research and development center is expected to be established later this year, along with the hope of offering about 80 local jobs.

Zhao Hongjin, president of overseas business at China Fortune Land Development, said that aside from Thailand, Huawei is interested in investing in a smart city in the CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam) region.

Presently, Huawei employs more than 1,800 employees in Thailand, and 90 percent of them are Thai. In Thailand, the Chinese tech company has established one training center, one regional solution innovation center, 15 spare parts service centers, 23 regional offices, and over 60 device service centers.

TagsHuawei, Thailand, Bangkok, Research and Development, research and development Thailand, research and development Huawei, digital economy, smart city