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44 new jobs will be created as Wales's leading life sciences
sector continues to grow.
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£23 million investment expands production of essential
pharmaceuticals at Norgine's facility in Hengoed.
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Investment by European pharma company supported by the Life
Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund.
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Announcement comes as Welsh Secretary sets out new programme
for promoting Wales on a global stage.
£23 million is being invested and more than 40 new jobs created
in Wales's growing life sciences sector.
Patients across the UK will have more reliable access to
essential medicines, with an investment by Norgine, a leading
European specialist pharmaceutical company, which manufactures
essential medicine at its facility in Hengoed in Caerphilly.
The Secretary of State for Wales announced the expansion while visiting the firm on
Thursday 5th March.
The £23 million investment will expand warehousing and production
space to meet increasing demand, as well as creating 44 new jobs.
It has been unlocked by the Life Sciences Innovative
Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF), a cornerstone of the UK Government's
commitment to strengthening the health sector and one of the six
headline commitments within the Life Sciences Sector Plan. Worth
up to £520 million, LSIMF continues to attract pioneering
companies and transformative projects to the UK.
The growing life sciences sector in Wales was estimated to have
generated more than £3.5 billion in turnover and employ over
13,000 people across more than 280 companies in 2023/24
Hengoed is part of a South Wales cluster recognised in the Life
Sciences Sector Plan for its significant strengths and
contribution to the UK life sciences landscape, supported by the
UK Government's wider modern Industrial Strategy.
This latest announcement comes as the Welsh Secretary confirmed
the Wales Office will work with partners on a new international
programme to capitalise on the nation's existing success in trade
and investment and develop it further.
Secretary of State for Wales said:
We have a thriving life sciences sector in Wales, and this
investment from Norgine is a vote of confidence in our Welsh
workforce. I am delighted that UK Government funding is
supporting the business to continue to grow and create new
well-paid jobs.
Norgine is a brilliant example of an international business that
is flourishing in Wales. With our new international programme we
are going to build on successes like this to attract even more
investment that will create opportunities all around Wales.
Janneke van der Kamp, Chief Executive Officer from Norgine said:
Today's announcement is an important milestone for Norgine and
for our team in Hengoed.
We have a proud 60‑year manufacturing heritage in Wales, and this
investment will strengthen our ability to reliably supply
essential medicines while creating high‑quality jobs for the
future.
We are deeply committed to Wales, not only through our
manufacturing footprint but also through developing local talent
in partnership with Cardiff University and regional colleges.
We are grateful for the support from the UK Government's Office
for Life Sciences, which reinforces the vital role Wales plays in
the UK's life sciences sector.
Wales is already punching above its weight in international trade
and investment, landing nearly 5% of all inward investment
projects in the UK and creating more than 2,000 jobs in 2024/25
alone.
At the Wales Office's annual St David's Day reception, held at
Wolf Studios in Cardiff, launched a dedicated programme of international trade
and investment activity to enhance Wales's reputation and attract
yet more international investment.
Notes to editors:
The trade and investment programme will include:
- Working closely with Welsh Government and local partners to
ensure clear and consistent investment propositions for Wales.
- A series of targeted and focussed overseas visits and events
to key markets to facilitate and promote Welsh trade and
attract inward investment.
- For the first time a fund for the UK Government overseas
network to specifically promote Welsh trade and investment
opportunities.
