WORK has started on a Borders-based cabling company’s “state-of-the-art” factory in Abu Dhabi.

Emtelle, which has its headquarters in Hawick, employs hundreds of people around the world.

And last month the firm announced plans for a £42m facility to boost its presence in ‘key markets’, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The ground-breaking represents the beginning of the first of three development phases of the Emtelle facility.

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Tony Rodgers, CEO of Emtelle Group, said: “Emtelle is delighted that construction work has started for our new state-of-the-art facility in Abu Dhabi, which will house our manufacturing facility, distribution centre and R&D Innovation Centre.”

Sanjay Nischal, managing director (Middle East & Asia Pacific) at Emtelle Group, added: “Our team is very excited to witness the ground-breaking of our new hub. UAE is well-known for its world-class global logistics ecosystem which opens new opportunities for Emtelle.

“Emtelle’s regional and global customers can access our wider range of fibre optic solutions for telecommunication, with a particular focus on fibre-to-the-home.

“Once operational, it will provide Emtelle with the capability and the capacity to manufacture and distribute a wider range of our innovative fibre-optic solutions to the Middle East, Asia Pacific and globally.”