Huawei breaks cultural barrier to win local acceptance

Huawei Venezuela prides itself on organizing out-of-hours "getting to know you" social events. These allow Chinese and local workers to relax together and build a genuine team spirit.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd (Huawei), a leader in providing next generation telecommunications networks for carriers around the world, now offers coverage to around 40 percent of Venezuela's telecommunications users, as well as innovative and customized products, services and solutions.

With the support of the Chinese and Venezuelan authorities, Huawei Venezuela was set up as a subsidiary of Huawei Technologies Co Ltd in 2002.

Through providing customized products and solutions, Huawei has built up a reputation as a leading provider in Venezuela and continues to create long-term value and growth potential for its customers.

Products and solutions developed by the company encompass a wide range of wireless products, core network products, network products, software and applications, as well as terminals, all which are designed with the customers needs very much in mind.

Local users have been swift to embrace the benefits of Huawei's advanced products and services. Huawei Venezuela has attracted a considerable following in the local telecommunications market and is now successfully competing with multinational equipment suppliers from Western countries.

Using the leverage gained from its vast range of products and solutions in Venezuela, Huawei has formed partnerships with a number of local telecommunications companies, including CANTV/Movilnet, Movistar, and Digitel since 2003.

Despite the global economic downturn, it remains a sound operation with a number of encouraging market indicators this year.

As a strategic partner, Huawei Venezuela will continue to build its cooperation with local government and universities through the means of both e-government and e-learning. It also hopes to improve the everyday lives of Venezuelan people by providing telecommunications solutions that exceed the expectation of its clients.

At present, Huawei Venezuela has over 70 subcontracting partners and more than 700 material and service suppliers across the country. This enables the company to be committed to serving society and improving people's lives.

With an accumulated investment amount of $250 million for service, material purchasing and training, Huawei has created a large number of job opportunities for local residents and spurred the development of the local telecommunications industry and its supporting services.

When Huawei initially began to explore the Venezuelan market back in 2001, it faced a number of challenges, largely because many of its potential clients knew very little about Chinese companies and were unconvinced that Huawei could supply hi-end telecommunications products.

Utilizing its global credentials, Huawei overcame the brand barrier and gradually won general acceptance from its local partners due to its provision of hi-end products and the quality of its services.

Huawei's success in Venezuela was partly down to China's own rapid economic development and its implementation of the strategy of "going out" and doing business with the world.

In addition, the close political and economic relationships between the two countries and a number of preferential policies have contributed considerably to Huawei's development in Venezuela.

Training program

Huawei Venezuela has put considerable efforts into training programs for its customers, partners and its local employees. A number of these training programs have been key in improving cross-cultural communication and a number of other invaluable skills.

On March 13, 2008, the company held the opening ceremony of the Huawei Andes Training Center in Caracas, the largest Spanish-speaking training center ever established by the company. It is also the only telecommunications-technology training center in Venezuela.

Covering a space of more than 1,200 sq m and backed by an investment of over $4 million, the center has the capacity for training up 100 people simultaneously.

On May 9 last year, Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu visited the center and was said to be "highly impressed" with its facilities.

To date, Huawei has trained 3,700 staff members for both the local government and a number of operators. By providing training for clients, partners and staff in product technology and engineering practice, Huawei believes it can raise customer service standards all round.

Huawei also cooperates with a number of local universities to provide additional training programs. The center's trainers are often invited to give lectures at local universities, whilst local students are welcome to attend any of the training courses at the center.

Both Huawei and the local universities are currently developing new courses. Internship is available to appropriate qualified trainees as part of the company's commitment help train local telecommunication talents for the country.

CSR

As a leading telecommunication solution provider, Huawei is dedicated to the sustainable development of the telecommunications industry.

Huawei has devoted itself to enriching people's lives through communication by means of providing professional products and services, helping fill in digital gaps, and creating the optimum social and economic environment. Millions of Venezuelan people have now enjoyed the benefits of the telecommunication services provided by Huawei. It has also directly provided job opportunities for 600 people and indirectly for 1,500 more.

The company is particularly proud of its vast network coverage throughout the country. Even the most remote villages in the Amazon regions are covered by its satellite bases, which enables some local residents to use phones and contact the outside world for the first time.

To increase its service commitment for local people, Huawei also supports the construction of education informationization. It donated, via Venezuela's Education Ministry, $1 million worth of educational network equipment and 200 computers for ten newly-established primary and secondary schools.

The Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the minister of education, and the Chinese ambassador to Venezuela all attended the donation ceremony on September 16, 2007. During the event, Chavez spoke highly of Huawei's contribution to Venezuelan society.

Huawei is committed to introducing more of China's advanced telecommunication technologies to Venezuela as part of its initiative to widen technology exchanges between the two countries.

A mobile manufacturing plant is expected to go into operation at the end of this year as point of a joint venture by Huawei Venezuela and Telecom Venezuela.

The plant is the fruit of cooperation between the two companies in the fields of mobile manufacturing technology, building construction, logistics, mobile design, research and development, and management.

Huawei expects that the plant will develop its own independent research and development ability over the next two years. This will boost the development of Venezuela's telecommunication industry and technology progress and make the country one of the key mobile manufacturers in South America.

(China Daily 06/29/2009 page6)