Huawei to invest $2b to expand UK operation

LONDON -- China's telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies announced Tuesday that it planned to invest 1.3 billion British pounds ($2 billion) to expand its operation in Britain in the next five years and the move is expected to create up to 700 new jobs.

Huawei's Chief Executive Ren Zhengfei revealed the investment plan on Tuesday when he met British Prime Minister David Cameron. He said that Britain is an open market, which welcomes overseas investment.

"I am, therefore, very pleased today to be announcing the 1.3 billion pounds investment and procurement plan, promoting the development of openness and free trade," Ren said.

He said Britain is "one of the most important European markets in which Huawei has invested".

"Britain is a center of innovation, has a highly skilled workforce, and is respected internationally for the quality of its legal and educational systems. It is for these reasons we have selected the UK as the location for a number of our centers of excellence", Ren said.

For his part, Prime Minister Cameron said the investment demonstrated that Britain is "open for business".

"I want to see more companies to invest in the UK as we work to achieve sustainable and balanced growth within our economy," Cameron said.

"The British government values the important relationship with China, both countries have much to offer each other and the business environment we are creating in the UK allows us to maximize this potential."

Huawei, founded in 1987, is the world's second-largest telecom equipment maker. It employs over 800 people in Britain.