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10 Dec 2003
Facility anticipated to employ more than 500 staff
Atlanta-based CIBA Vision, a Novartis Company and global leader in the research, development and manufacturing of optical and ophthalmic products and services, including contact lenses and lens care products, has decided to establish a contact lens manufacturing facility in Singapore.
The Company expects to open the plant in late 2004 and eventually expand to employ more than 500. The manufacturing facility will also include a replenishment centre for warehousing and distribution of products manufactured in Singapore. Additional terms were not disclosed.
"We are very pleased with Singapore as the location for our new manufacturing site," said Joe Mallof, CEO of CIBA Vision. "The location is ideal to allow us to better serve our growing business in Asia. We appreciate the support and cooperation we received from the Singapore government and the Economic Development Board regarding our investment plans."
"CIBA Vision will be able to capitalize on Singapore's highly trained manufacturing workforce, strategic location and world-class logistics infrastructure," said Mr. Philip Yeo, Co-chairman for the Economic Development Board (EDB) and Chairman for the Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR). "The contact lens plant will be a welcome addition to the cluster of medical technology companies in Singapore, a fast-growing component of our Biomedical Sciences initiative that continues to provide strong job opportunities in manufacturing and research."
"We are also pleased because this project expands Novartis' presence in Singapore. Together with the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases, the CIBA Vision manufacturing investment is a strong endorsement of Singapore's competitiveness for supporting Biomedical Sciences projects," added Mr Yeo.
Manufacturing output in Medical Technology grew at a steady rate of 14% to S$1.8 billion for 2002. Leading companies with global manufacturing and supply chain management activities in Singapore include Applied Biosystems, Baxter, BD (Becton Dickinson) and Siemens Medical Instruments, and more recently, Cardinal Health.
About CIBA Vision
With worldwide headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A., CIBA Vision Corporation is a global leader in research, development, manufacturing and marketing of optical and ophthalmic products, including contact lenses and lens care products. CIBA Vision employs more than 6,500 people around the world, with products available in more than 70 countries. For further information please consult http://www.cibavision.com.
CIBA Vision is the eye care unit of Novartis AG, a world leader in pharmaceuticals and consumer health. In 2002, the Group's businesses achieved sales of CHF 32.4 billion (USD 20.9 billion) and a net income of CHF 7.3 billion (USD 4.7 billion). Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ about 72,900 people and operate in over 140 countries around the world. For further information please consult http://www.novartis.com.
About Singapore Economic Development Board
The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is the lead agency that plans and executes strategies to develop Singapore as a thriving global hub for business and investment. It enables multinational and Singapore-based companies to establish value-creating operations in both manufacturing and international tradeable services sectors.
EDB's Biomedical Sciences Group is responsible for the development of the Biomedical Sciences cluster and works closely with A*Star and other agencies to develop Singapore's human, intellectual, and industrial capital for Biomedical Sciences. For more information, please visit www.biomed-singapore.com.
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