Uyo-An oil-rich state in Nigeria has signed a deal with a Chinese firm and American investors to build a mobile phone plant,the first in this fast-growing country in the telecommunications area, its governor said on Monday.

"The China Electronics Corporation (CEC) was brought by our American friends who are interested in developing our science park in the state capital, Uyo," said Akwa Ibom State Governor Victor Attah.

"The Chinese have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with us to first build a cell phone warehouse. They have come and done their market research and are convinced of the profitability of the venture," he said.

He said the company will go into the packaging of cell phone materials from China before going into manufacturing.

Under the deal, the government will contribute 33 percent equity, the CEC 33 percent and the American partners another 33 percent while the remaining one percent will be contributed by the Chinese company for community development.

"We have all agreed on the this year as a deadline for every party to contribute its share," Attah said.

Global System of Mobile (GSM) communication was introduced in Nigeria in 2001 and its four main operators have about 20 million subscribers.