Chinese leading telecom equipment manufacturer ZTE Corporation is planning to establish a mobile phone assembly plant in Zambia, and the feasibility study on the program is under way, ZTE's country representative James King said on Monday.

This is part of the company's localization strategy in the country, King told Xinhua, adding that the building of the plant will depend on the outcome of the study, which will be finalized in August this year.

Founded in 1985, ZTE Corporation entered the Zambian market three years after its establishment, aiming at becoming a long- term feature of the country's industrial base.

So far, ZTE has constructed in the country an intelligent network platform that has enabled Zambia Telecommunication Company (Zamtel) to provide mobile service to five out of the country's nine provinces. The company is now planning for an extension of the coverage to the rest areas.

ZTE was listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on mainland China in 1997 and on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at the end of 2004. Last year, the company has achieved sales revenue up to 34 billion yuan (about 4 billion US dollars ).

Source: Xinhua