The pharmaceutical market is an important niche which Malta needs to exploit further in order to attract more investment, Nationalist MEP David Casa said during a visit to leading drug manufacturer Actavis.

Mr Casa said Actavis was a success story in the Maltese manufacturing industry.

Over the past five years the company, which develops and produces generic pharmaceuticals, invested €47 million in Malta. It employs 511 people. Production has more than doubled since 1996.

Mr Casa said Malta's EU membership helped Actavis strengthen its position further by facilitating generics manufacturers to penetrate the North African markets.

Actavis Malta managing director Servio Vella said the local operation's success and positive results were largely the result of the commitment, dedication and technical competence of the workforce.

He said the mother company has consistently demonstrated strong support and trust with regard to the Malta operation and this enabled it to make significant progress towards operational excellence.

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