Huawei to up investment and staff in SA

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Mantashe said: "We appreciate the continued investment in South Africa by a leading high-tech enterprise such as Huawei, and we welcome Huawei's help in upgrading national telecommunications network coverage, digitising the government and the public sector, and fostering creative ICT talent for South Africa."

Li said: "We appreciate the Sectary General's acknowledgement of Huawei's past contributions to South Africa. His vision of cultivating more creative ICT talent is forward looking and ambitious. We will respond actively to his call by working hard to implement a South African National Broadband and National Data Centre and continue to foster ICT talents in South Africa."

Huawei has done business in South Africa for over 15 years and is currently one of the country's main providers of telecommunications equipment. It cooperates widely with local telecommunications operators, private enterprises, and the government, and has become a key strategic partner in developing a digital society in South Africa. Huawei places great emphasis on localisation and, as of 31 December, 2014, there are 1028 employees in South Africa, over 60% of whom are local. In the next five years, Huawei will further localise its workforce, increasing local staff by 50%.