Shenzhen-based Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., China's largest telecom equipment maker, said it had formed a partnership with the Nigerian Government that would include the sale of US$200 million worth of equipment.

Under its agreement with Nigeria's Ministry of Communications, Huawei would deploy a wireless network across the country, Africa's most populous, the company said in a statement.

China Development Bank will provide Nigeria with a US$200 million loan to finance the project, while Huawei will also invest US$20 million in a manufacturing facility in Nigeria.

Huawei and its chief Chinese rival, ZTE Corp., also located in Shenzhen, are said to be interested in buying a majority stake in Nigeria's fixed-line monopoly, Nitel, and mobile phone unit M-Tel.

Both firms have ambitious export plans, as they seek to grow beyond their domestic base and compete on the global stage with the likes of multinationals Motorola Inc., Ericsson and Nokia.

Huawei has also signed some smaller deals in developed markets, such as the United States and France.

(Shenzhen Daily April 18, 2005)