China’s leading telecom equipment provider Huawei (News - Alert) Technologies reaffirmed its commitment to the UK by announcing the opening of a new UK headquarters in Reading. While the move confirms Huawei’s long-term commitment to the UK, it is also the first significant milestone in the company’s pledge to invest £1.3 billion (US $2.04 billion) into the economy over a five-year period. According to Huawei, the new 140,000 sq ft office complex will house the company’s main UK operation and will help meet its future needs as the workforce grows.

The Chinese telecom giant first opened an office in the UK in 2001. Since then, it has been deploying the latest in customer-centric technologies and solutions in the UK. The move to Green Park, Reading follows the announcement last September, when Huawei said that it would make investments of about £650 million (US $1.02 billion) and spend another £650 million (US $1.02 billion) on procurement in UK over the next five years.

Speaking at the opening of this office, Mark Hoban, employment minister, stated, “This is a significant investment in the UK, which shows that we are open for business. This Government is committed to doing all that we can to help people achieve their aspiration of looking after themselves and their families, and this investment will bring a welcome jobs boost for the region.”

Similarly, welcoming Huawei to Green Park, Alok Sharma (News - Alert), MP for Reading West, said, “I am very pleased Huawei has selected Reading and Green Park as the location of its new headquarters. Green Park is at the heart of the ‘M4 corridor’, the center of Britain’s information, communication and technology sectors, it has a highly skilled local workforce with unrivalled transport links.” The Reading West MP promised to work with Huawei as it settles into its new UK home.

Likewise, at the opening ceremony, Huawei’s executive director of the board and CFO Cathy Meng indicated that this was the beginning of a new period of development for the company. And that Huawei was grateful to all of UK customers and partners, including the British government, for their continued trust and support.