Huawai plans €200 million plant in France

Chinese technology firm Huawei has announced it will spend more than €200 million on the construction of a production facility in France.

The company said the “highly automated and intelligent facility will specialise in 4G and 5G equipment and will primarily manufacture supplies for European customers.”

According to Huawei, it was attracted to France as a base for its first European plant because of its mature industrial infrastructure, educated labour pool and geographical positioning.

The company is also keen to demonstrate its integrity in the face of allegations from a number of Western nations that Huawei might hand over confidential data on users to the Chinese government. Huawei has repeatedly denied these allegations.

Late last year, the company released a statement in which it said, “Taking on an open, transparent and sincere attitude, Huawei is willing to work with all governments, customers and partners through various channels to jointly cope with cyber security threats and challenges from cyber security.”

Announcing the construction of the French plant, the company said it would be “open to carriers, governments and related authorities, demonstrating Huawei’s positive stance on Europe’s call for digital sovereignty”.

Some 500 jobs will be directly created by the new facility, which will produce a range of wireless communications equipment, as well as hosting a demonstration centre, in which it will showcase wireless base station production, software loading and testing processes.

Dates and technical details regarding the construction of the plant have so far not been released by Huawei.