Major telecom firm opens regional office in Hong Kong

A leading international telecommunications provider, EADS TELECOM, today (September 27) opened its regional office in Hong Kong, gaining a strategic foothold in the region.

Headquartered in France, EADS TELECOM is the telecommunications division of the EADS Group, the largest aeronautics, space and defence firm in Europe, and second worldwide.

It provides and integrates secure turnkey telecommunications solutions based on civilian technology for the global defence, public safety and civil markets. The company also develops secure digital radio networks.

EADS TELECOM's Chief Operating Officer, Mr Patrick Jourdan, said opening the new office in Hong Kong was a logical step for the company to extend its international presence, especially in Asia, where there was considerable commercial potential.

In the past, EADS TELECOM sold its enterprise communication systems in Asia through the distribution channels of Nortel Networks.

"The opening of the Hong Kong office will make it easier for us to secure agreements with local distributors capable of offering and integrating our Connexity solutions for the Enterprise market," the company's Enterprise Business Director for Asia, Mr Luc Bentolila said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director-General of Invest Hong Kong, Mr Mike Rowse, said EADS TELECOM's decision to select the SAR for its regional office was a great illustration of how an international group could key into the benefits offered by the geographical and commercial location of Hong Kong.

"We are pleased to have companies like EADS TELECOM introducing leading-edge telecom technology to Hong Kong, and making use of our city as a platform to market their services throughout the region," he said.

"Offering an efficient and international business environment, Hong Kong is the ideal regional base for companies to develop into the Asian market and a central hub for co-ordinating their business activities in different parts of Asia."

With a local presence in 13 countries covering Europe, the United States and Mexico, the company has a total of 3,500 employees with pro-forma revenues of 860 million euros worldwide in 2001.

Ends/Friday, September 27, 2002