Tunisia: Major French pharmaceutical group launches first production plant in Africa
Tunis, January 7, 2009- “Pierre Fabre”, a major international French pharmaceutical group, inaugurated on Tuesday in Radès, near Tunis, its first production unit in Africa.
The inauguration took place in the presence of the Minister of health, Mr Mondher Zenaidi, the French Ambassador in Tunis and senior executives from the French company.
The unit dubbed “Pierre Fabre Medicaments Production Tunisie SA”, cost 10 million dinars to set up, 65% of which are held by Pierre Fabre and 35% by the Tunisian company of pharmaceutical industries (SIPHAT).
The plant which is equipped with the latest cutting edge technology in the sector, will employ 80 people and will have a production capacity of about 7 to 8 million units per year. Production is expected to start, during the first term of 2009 and 50% will be destined to Libya and Sub Saharan Africa.
Plans are also afoot to set up research projects in Tunisia.
There are currently some 1300 French companies operating in Tunisia. France is Tunisia’s first economic partner.
Tunisia’s pharmaceutical industry has been witnessing a constant growth these last years. With a turnover of some 300 million dinars, against only 8 million dinars twenty years ago, it is one of the fastest growing industries in the country.
Pierre Fabre which represents the second private pharmaceutical group in France is involved in the production of generic medical products, as well as in dermatological and cosmetic products. It employs some 10,000 people throughout the world.
