An £80 million contract to build and operate a Malaysian technology park has been won by ESB International (ESBI), the ESB's consultancy and engineering subsidiary.

The company said yesterday that the contract was the biggest deal to date. It will involve a two-and-a-half year construction programme plus a seven-year operational programme, employing about 100 of ESBI's personnel. It brings to £200 million the total value of contracts won by ESBI in the past 18 months.

Manwhile the company has moved to increase equity stakes in its overseas projects for which it has a £120 million budget.