Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei Technologies officially opened its Southeast Asia regional headquarters in Bangkok yesterday in a strategic move to cash in on opportunities arising from the country's digital economy initiative.
The 4,380-square-metre facility in Wireless Road with an investment of US$12 million underscores Huawei's long-term commitment to the Thai market and continued growth in the region.
Huawei wants to be a driving force in Thailand's efforts to become an information and communications technology (ICT) hub in Southeast Asia.
"We believe Thailand has the capability to become an ICT hub given its favourable business environment, political stability, solid ICT infrastructure backbone and new technology-based business opportunities from the development of a digital economy," said David Sun, president and chief executive of Huawei Southeast Asia.
Huawei received incentives from the Board of Investment to establish its international headquarters in Thailand.
The office includes a customer solutions innovation centre, an innovation and integration experience centre and a training centre.
It will support another 10 markets -- India, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
"We are now in the era of digital transformation and ICT is playing a critical role," said Mr Sun.
Wang Yifan, managing director of Huawei Technologies (Thailand), said the company was looking to support the Thai government's smart city project using technologies for safety and security purposes.
Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who presided over the opening ceremony of the regional HQ, said Thailand had become one of Asean's gateways to the world and home to many important clusters of industries including the ICT sector.
He said the government had pledged to invest 20 billion baht to construct a national broadband infrastructure.
Mr Somkid said the ICT workforce would be important in developing the digital economy.
"Building clusters of the digital technology industry is needed to enhance innovation and increase the number of technology-driven companies," he said.