English Version :
€16 million foreign direct investment by A2W Pharma inaugurated
A2W Pharma chose Malta to expand its operations to research and develop innovative products in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.
A multi-million investment by Amino Chemicals, established more than 30 years ago, inaugurated the subsidiary facility A2W Pharma to produce products related to medical cannabis.
The €16 million investment was carried out at Marsa Industrial Estate. A2W Pharma will produce Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) for this sector, as well as continue to develop innovative products based on research and development. This is yet another milestone achieved by Amino Chemicals, as this multi-million investment includes capital investment, both in its infrastructure and machinery, laboratories and operations.
At the inauguration, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Enterprise Miriam Dalli remarked how this specialized niche will lead to an important economic activity.
“This investment shows a force of confidence by foreign investors towards Malta. This investment will not only contribute to Malta’s economy but also contribute to foreign direct investment, which will see an increase in high quality employment, all whilst continuing to ensure that manufactured products produced in Malta will continue contributing to the global economy, especially within the medical sector as it reaches patients across the world.”
Malta Enterprise, the national economic development agency, has been crucial in assisting A2W Pharma to set up its operations in Malta. Malta Enterprise Chief Executive Kurt Farrugia said that, “Malta has the potential to become a biopharmaceutical hub. This is because our country is at the forefront in the fields of innovation, research and development, as well as in the medical sector. As Malta Enterprise, we know exactly where we are heading to and therefore we are continuously working to attract more companies to Malta. We believe that this sector is heading towards diversification of the pharmaceutical sector, as it continues to create quality jobs and research and development activities.”
Minister Miriam Dalli explained how the government is committed to offering support within the research and development sector. She then added that Malta should not only be known for its high-quality products, but also as a centre of excellence generating intellectual property and innovative products and processes.
“The pharmaceutical sector is indeed a key enabler of growth for our economy, as it provides quality careers and upskilling opportunities for more than a 1,100 people. Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, this industry registered an impressive growth of 7.3% in skilled employment opportunities. This is a testimony of the resilience of this industry and the right economic environment for our country,” added Minister Dalli.
“The opening of A2W is an important step towards becoming a leader in the medical cannabis space and putting Malta on the map as a great place to do business in this industry,” said A2W Pharma Director Peter Paul Farrugia.
Ambassador of China to Malta Yu Dunhai and representatives from Malta’s Medicine Authority were also present for the inauguration.
Maltese Version :
Inawgurat investiment dirett barrani ta’ €16-il miljun minn A2W Pharma
A2W Pharma għażlet lil Malta biex tespandi l-operat tagħha u tirriċerka u tiżviluppa prodotti innovattivi oħra fil-qasam tal-farmaċewtika u life sciences
B’investiment ta’ madwar €16-il miljun, il-kumpanija Amino Chemicals, li ilha topera f’Malta għal dawn l-aħħar 30 sena, fetħet kumpanija sussidjarja A2W Pharma sabiex tipproduċi wkoll prodotti relatati mal-kannabis mediċinali.
Permezz tal-investiment f’sit industrijali fil-Marsa, A2W Pharma se tkun qed tipproduċi Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) għal dan is-settur, u se tkun qed tibni fuq prodotti innovattivi bbażżati fuq ir-riċerka u l- iżvilupp. Dan huwa tragward ieħor importanti għal Amino Chemicals. L-investiment multi-miljunarju jinkludi wkoll investimenti kapitali, kemm fil-binja u l-makkinarju, il-laboratorji u anke l-operat.
Waqt l-inawgurazzjoni ta’ din il-faċilità, il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Intrapriża Miriam Dalli rrimarkat kif niċċa speċjalizzata se twassal għal attività ekonomika importanti oħra.
“Investiment bħal dan huwa turija ta’ fiduċja li kumpaniji barranin għandhom f’Malta. Filwaqt li se jkun qed jagħti kontribut mill-aqwa fl-ekonomija Maltija u kontribuzzjoni ta’ investiment dirett barrani li se jkun qed iwassal għal żieda fl-impjiegi u xogħol ta’ kwalità, b’dan il-mod se nkomplu nassiguraw li b’prodotti manifatturati f’Malta, pajjiżna jibqa’ jikkontribwixxi fl-ekonomija globali, speċjalment dik medika li tilħaq pazjenti minn madwar id-dinja.”
Malta Enterprise, l-aġenzija nazzjonali għall-iżvilupp ekonomiku, kienet kruċjali biex tassisti lill-A2W Pharma ħalli tibda l-operat tagħha f’Malta. Il-Kap Eżekuttiv Kurt Farrugia qal, “Qed naraw li Malta tkun ċentru tal- bijofarmaċewtika. Dan għaliex pajjiżna huwa minn ta’ quddiem fil-qasam tal-innovazzjoni, ir-riċerka u l-iżvilupp u anke fis-settur mediċinali. Bħala Malta Enterprise nafu eżatt fejn irridu naslu u għalhekk qed inkomplu naħdmu biex aktar kumpaniji jagħżlu lil Malta. Nemmnu li dan is-settur huwa l-pass lejn id-diversifikazzjoni tas-settur farmaċewtiku, hekk kif qed ikompli joħloq impjiegi ta’ kwalità u attivitajiet ta’ riċerka u żvilupp.”
Il-Ministru Miriam Dalli spjegat kif il-gvern huwa impenjat li jkompli jagħti appoġġ fil-qasam tar-riċerka fl-istess settur. Kompliet tgħid li Malta ma għandhiex tkun magħrufa għal prodotti ta’ kwalità għolja biss, imma anke bħala ċentru ta’ eċċellenza ġġenerata min proprjetà intellettwali u proċessi u prodotti innovattivi.
“Is-settur tal-farmaċewtika f’Malta huwa settur importanti għall-ekonomija Maltija, qiegħed jipprovdi karrieri ta’ kwalità lil aktar minn 1,100 persuna. Minkejja l-isfidi li ġabet magħha l-pandemija, din l-industrija rat żieda ta’ 7.3% f’opportunitajiet ta’ xogħol, li turi r-reżiljenza ta’ din l-industrija u l-ambjent ekonomiku tajjeb għal pajjiżna,” żiedet tgħid il-Ministru Dalli.
“Il-ftuħ ta’ A2W huwa pass importanti biex tkun leader fil-qasam tal-kannabis mediċinali, filwaqt li tpoġġi lil Malta fuq il-mappa bħala pajjiż li wieħed għandu jiftaħ in-negozju tiegħu f’din l-industrija,” qal id-Direttur ta’ A2W Pharma Peter Paul Farrugia.
L-Ambaxxatur taċ-Ċina għal Malta Yu Dunhai u rappreżentanti mill-Awtorità Maltija għall-Mediċini kienu preżenti għall-inawgurazzjoni.