German state honors Huawei for investments

BERLIN - Chinese tech company Huawei received Monday the NRW.INVEST Award in the western German city of Duesseldorf for its outstanding investments in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).

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For the 10th time, NRW Economics Ministry and NRW.INVEST, the state's economic development agency that deals with support for foreign investors, have presented the NRW.INVEST Award.

With this award, NRW honors exemplary investments at the business location. This year, three companies received awards, including Huawei, the American package delivery company UPS and the French company Air Liquide.

North Rhine-Westphalia is a leading location in Germany for foreign investments. According to NRW Economics Minister Garrelt Duin, about a quarter of investment projects in Germany flew to the state in 2013.

"Engine of the development is Asia," NRW.INVEST CEO Petra Wassner said at Monday's presentation ceremony.

According to NRW.INVEST, the number of foreign investment projects in NRW jumped to 236 in 2013, a 12 percent increase compared to the previous year. Again, China led the country ranking with 63 investment projects.

Huawei, a Chinese multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services company, has been making large investments in NRW's capital city of Duesseldorf. Currently, 650 employees are working in the company's headquarters for Western Europe and Germany which is located in Duesseldorf.