IDA Ireland has welcomed the official opening of Servier Ireland’s new €47 million manufacturing plant in Arklow, Co. Wicklow.

The new 4,500 sq-meter facility marks the final stage in a €124 million investment process, which commenced in 1989, and has seen the size of Servier’s Arklow site double in the last 3 years with the creation of 100 new jobs.

The facility will act as a strategic centre for the company in its R&D pipeline activities.

Commenting on the opening of the plant, Barry O’Leary CEO of IDA Ireland, said: “The ongoing Government and IDA Ireland strategy has pointed towards the development of a knowledge-based economy as being key to the Ireland’s future growth and competitiveness."

"This investment is testament to the operational excellence, infrastructure and highly skilled workforce which has evolved. It also sends out a clear signal to multinational corporations worldwide that Ireland remains at the cutting-edge of research and development and a highly attractive location for investment.”

Servier is France’s leading independent pharmaceutical company and has more than 20,000 employees, including nearly 3,000 in Research and Development in over 140 countries.

Source: www.independent.ie