Singapore: Research-based pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim and Taizhou China Medical City in China have signed agreement for the establishment of a veterinary vaccine manufacturing plant. Under the terms of the agreement, the plant will be built in Taizhou China Medical City, a national pharmaceutical high-tech industry park. The total investment will be more than $68 million (55.5 million euro). Upon completion, the facility will become a leading manufacturer for veterinary vaccines in Asia. The signing of the agreement, following the launch of the Boehringer Ingelheim Asian Veterinary Research & Development (R&D) Center in Zhangjiang, Shanghai, in March 2012, marks another major step by Boehringer Ingelheim to continue the expansion of its animal health business in China.

"The move underlines our long-term commitment to China", said Mr Hubertus von Baumbach, responsible for the Corporate Board Divisions Finance and Animal Health. "We are a global leader in animal health, particularly in the swine vaccine sector. With the signing of the joint venture agreement, we commit ourselves to bring the entire value chain of our vaccine business to China: R&D, manufacturing and sales."

"Taizhou China Medical City, with its favourable geographic location, sound investment environment and well qualified employees, among many other things, proves to be an ideal partner for Boehringer Ingelheim," said Mr George Heidgerken, Senior Vice President Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.

Mr Rong He, senior deputy mayor of Taizhou, said: "The decision by Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, to establish an animal vaccine manufacturing base in Taizhou is far-sighted and of strategic importance." The manufacturing site will produce swine and poultry vaccines for China and other Asian markets and will create job opportunities for more than 200 employees.

"The Animal Health business plays an important strategic role for Boehringer Ingelheim China," said David Preston, country manager of Boehringer Ingelheim in China. "The vaccine manufacturing venture and the veterinary R&D center will become two driving forces behind our objective to be a leading player in the China animal health business."