Huawei makes €800 million economic contribution to Ireland, reveals Amárach report

Huawei makes an €800 million economic contribution to Ireland annually, a new report by Amárach has revealed.

The comprehensive economic assessment report, ‘Huawei Ireland: Economic and Social Impact’, shows that the company employs 543 individuals and supports the employment of a further 6,100 individuals through indirect (3,170) and induced (2,949) effects from its activities which include significant R&D.

The report was launched at Huawei’s 20th anniversary event held today at The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin. Since its arrival to Ireland in 2004, Huawei’s activities have developed from supplying mobile phones, building Ireland’s first national fixed wireless network, to being at the forefront of powering Ireland’s digital connectivity and the country’s green energy ambitions.

According to the report, Huawei – the leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure – will contribute €4.5 billion in economic value to Ireland between now and 2030, with the potential for this figure to be bigger.

Speaking at the event, Minister Dara Calleary said: “I am pleased to be here at this event to acknowledge Huawei’s contribution to the Irish economy through direct and indirect employment and induced effects from its activities since 2004. The company’s investment in R&D has allowed Huawei 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.”

Also speaking at the event, Huawei Ireland CEO Calvin Lan said: “From small beginnings, our products and services now serve approximately 3.5 million people and businesses across Ireland, the continued support of our customers, partners, and dedication of our staff has contributed significantly to our growth. We employ almost 550 people directly and we have four offices across the country including three R&D centres in Dublin, Cork, and Athlone.

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. Ireland has developed an innovation ecosystem which sees world leaders in technology like Huawei locate here.”

He continued: “Huawei believes that FDI in Ireland should be encouraged from America, Asia, and everywhere in between. A strong and diverse pipeline of foreign investment helps create an innovation mindset. It also supports the development of Ireland’s home-grown start-up ecosystem, leading to greater collaboration, cooperation, and opportunities for Irish companies to go global.”

One of the panellists at the event, David Gaskin, VP of Technology, IDA said: “IDA Ireland is pleased to have partnered with Huawei since the company first established a presence here 20 years ago. In those two decades, 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. We look forward to continuing to work with Huawei and to supporting them in their future growth and development in the decades to come.”

While launching the report, Gerard O’Neill, chairman, Amárach Research explained: “In carrying out our research for the report we found that along with the positive impact of Huawei’s R&D activities, Ireland’s economy derives significant economic benefits from the company’s operational expenditure and exchequer contributions. As well as discussing in detail the economic impact assessment, we also explore Huawei’s CSR initiatives ranging from charity support to promotion of STEM subjects in second and third level education.”

After 20 years, this research document shows that Huawei is a significant part of the digital success story in Ireland with the possibility of contributing even more in the years ahead.

To read the full report click here.