Huawei is continuing to make strides in the tech industry with plans to build a factory in France. This move comes as the Chinese company aims to release leading, innovative, and disruptive products in the coming years.

Although many European states have restrictions on Huawei and China’s ZTE due to security concerns, the decision to build the first European plant in France is a significant development. The original plans for the factory date back to 2020 but were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The proposed location for the factory is in Brumath, near Strasbourg, and it was initially announced that the plant would invest 200 million euros (approximately $215 million) and would employ 300 people, eventually growing to 500 in the long term. The products manufactured in this plant would be used by Huawei’s European clients.

It is worth noting that France has a special relationship with Huawei, as evidenced by the China-France Economic and Financial Dialogue in 2023. China expressed a desire for France to “stabilize the tone” of EU-China relations, highlighting the importance of their trade partnership.

Overall, the planned Huawei factory in France marks an important step for the company amidst rising tensions between the US and China, and the ongoing concerns about the use of Chinese tech equipment in Europe.