Nortel will open its first supply chain "Center of Excellence" in Asia in the Chinese city of Shanghai.

Corporate executives gathered in Beijing for a partner and supplier conference made the announcement on Friday. Nortel recently opened another center in Turkey and has a center in Mexico.

Earlier this week, Nortel named a new procurement officer, Jeff Townley, and said he would be based in China.

A company spokesperson could not specify the number of jobs that would be created in Shanghai, but in a release the networking gear company said its employee headcount in Shanghai would "quadruple." The operation will operate later this year.

According to Local TechWire, the Centers of Excellence are part of Nortel's efforts to improve its supply chain.

"Asia - and China in particular - is fundamental to the transformation of our supply chain activities as we continue to drive for cost-competitiveness and value for our customers across the globe," said Joel Hackney, senior vice president of Global Operations and Quality for Nortel. "China's cost-competitive environment provides the ideal climate for increased investment in procurement; the Shanghai Center of Excellence will provide essential technical and operation support where it is required most."

Hackney is also Nortel's senior executive at its campus in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Nortel played host to more than 200 suppliers and partners in Beijing.

"The focus of the event - cost-competitiveness and quality delivery - made Beijing the logical choice to host this gathering of world suppliers," Townley said in a statement.