Production is underway at Huawei's electronic assembly plant in Oued Smar in Algiers, Algeria.

The first product to be assembled - the Y7 Prime – has already been introduced into the market, and six additional models are expected to be assembled this year.

The plant, a joint venture between Huawei and Algerian firm AFGO-TECH, has the capacity to produce 15,000 smart devices per month, according to Amine Harzelli, commercial director of Huawei Algeria.

"The volume is flexible, however, depending on the needs of the market," said Harzelli.

The decision to set up the factory was reached after the government of Algeria placed a ban on the importation of mobile phones in January 2018. According to authorities, the ban was aimed at achieving trade balance.

In March 2018 at the inauguration ceremony for the company's new headquarters in Bab Ezzouar business district, Gao Jia, DG of Huawei Algeria announced plans to setup a "a big smartphone assembly factory" in Algeria.

The company is aiming to increase its market share of 16% in Algeria by the end of 2019.

According to Huawei, about 100 people are working in the factory including 18 engineers that were trained on the company's production techniques and procedures in Shenzhen, China.

"Equipped with the latest generation equipment, the infrastructure could support Huawei in its conquest of the sub-regional market of North Africa," the company stated.

Huawei has been at the centre of global attention in recent months following allegations of espionage on behalf of the Chinese government, prompting the governments of Canada, United States, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Czech Republic, to reject the company's telecoms equipment and warn citizens against using Huawei devices.