KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — Huawei, a leading global information and communications technology solutions provider, will establish 100 brand stores and 500 promotional kiosks in Malaysia this year.

Its Consumer Business Group Country Director Gary Xu said Huawei will be expanding its presence by bringing in more flagship mobile devices and opening brand stores and promotional kiosks at key market centres throughout the country.

However, Xu declined to share the investment amount.

Currently, Huawei has 26 existing brand stores in Malaysia and holds a 1.8 per cent market share in Malaysia since it started its operations two years ago.

“Huawei plans to be one of Malaysia’s top three mobile vendors in two years and turn it into an Asia Pacific hub with the existence of its data centre in Medini, Iskandar Malaysia.

“Malaysia has a great mobile ecosystem compared to other countries in the region such as Indonesia and we plan to expand further here,” Xu said at a media briefing here today.

Huawei plans to pair up with local telcos Maxis, Celcom and Digi to market its bundled package which includes smartphones, tablets, home technology devices and media products in Malaysia, Xu said.

He said at the moment discussions are on-going to establish its presence in local telco packages.

“Currently we’ve already brought in 10 products and will unleash 10 more products this year.

“Since 2011, Huawei Malaysia has been steadily building its presence in the local consumer market through the introduction of a great line-up of mobile devices that cater to consumers’ needs and lifestyles,” he said, adding that Huawei’s efforts are bearing fruit.

He said according to a study, awareness of the Huawei brand amongst Malaysian consumers in 2013 was 39 per cent, adding he aims to grow it to 70 per cent in two years.

During the media briefing, Xu also announced the winners of Huawei’s recently concluded global holiday competition ‘Unlock Possibilities’, and presented Mercedes-Benz cars to two Malaysian winners.

The China-based brand’s products and services are deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world’s population.

Huawei ranked third in global smartphone shipments in 2013, according to the International Data Corporation. — Bernama