Bangladesh's leading electronics manufacturer Walton yesterday teamed up with a Nigerian company to export laptops for the first time to the African country.

Walton Laptop DG-Tech Industries Ltd will export 500 laptops to the firm -- Western Base Nigeria, Walton said in a statement yesterday.

SM Rezaul Alam, chairman of Walton Laptop DG-Tech Industries Ltd, and David None, director of the Nigerian company, signed a deal in this regard.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Telecom and ICT Minister Mustafa Jabbar and ICT State Minister Junaid Ahmed Palak attended the deal signing ceremony, at the finance ministry in Dhaka.

Walton assembled the laptops in Bangladesh with some value addition, said Shahbuddin Sabuj, company secretary of Walton.

According to the rules of origin, a country has to add at least 30 percent value to export a product.

Walton has already got export order for its laptops from the neighbouring country Nepal, he said. "Preparations are also complete to start exporting laptops to Bhutan and East Timor."

The company exports its refrigerator, television, air-conditioner and other home appliances to Nigeria, Nepal, India, Bhutan, East Timor, Lebanon and the Middle East, he said.