A new report shows that Chinese telecom giant Huawei makes an €800m economic contribution to Ireland annually.
The report by Amárach reveals that the company employs 543 people in Ireland. It also supports the employment of a further 6,100 people through indirect (3,170) and induced (2,949) effects from its activities which include significant research and development.
Huawei have four offices across the country including three R&D centres in Dublin, Cork, and Athlone.
Since its arrival here in 2004, Huawei's activities have developed from supplying mobile phones and building Ireland's first national fixed wireless network, to powering the country's digital connectivity and its green energy ambitions.
According to today's report, Huawei will contribute €4.5 billion in economic value to Ireland between now and 2030, with the potential for this figure to be bigger.
Huawei Ireland CEO Calvin Lan said that from small beginnings, the company's products and services now serve about 3.5 million people and businesses across Ireland.
"Huawei is operating in over 170 countries across the world. In Ireland, there is a lot of internal competition to attract investment and new projects, and we have managed to secure investment and projects because Ireland has a strong and growing talent-pool," Mr Lan said.
"Ireland has developed an innovation ecosystem which sees world leaders in technology like Huawei locate here," he added.
Launching today's report, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary said Huawei's investment in R&D has allowed the company to work towards being at the forefront of Ireland's digital transformation.
"Huawei is responsible for supporting the connectivity of millions of people across Ireland and is currently supporting local customers in the rollout of next generation networks, including 5G and gigabit broadband, while contributing to the development of Ireland's national digital infrastructure," Mr Calleary said.
David Gaskin, VP of Technology, at IDA Ireland, said that in the two decades the company has been in Ireland, Huawei has grown, adapted, and contributed significantly to the Irish economy and society.
"Foreign Direct Investment, such as this, is crucial to the continued growth and success of Ireland's tech sector, not only through substantial capital investments but also technical expertise and innovation which further drive economic growth and technological advancement," he added.
Huawei has been at the centre of controversy in recent years over concerns about its relationship with the Chinese government and fears that its equipment could be used by China for spying - claims the company has strongly denied.
A number of countries, including the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Sweden have banned or put restrictions on the use of Huawei equipment in their next generation telecom networks.
