A co-operation agreement between Simonds Farsons Cisk plc and Carlsberg Breweries A/S of Denmark was signed last week at the Farsons Brewery in Mriehel. The agreement was signed by Bjorn Wiggen, senior vice president of Carlsberg Breweries A/S, and Louis A. Farrugia, group chief executive of the Farsons Group.

The agreement gives Farsons the right to brew, bottle and market Carlsberg and Skol beers for 12 years. It also covers all aspects of the brewing operations for these two brands, which are marketed in a number of countries around the world.

Farsons and Carlsberg are this year also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the signing of the first licencing agreement between the two companies. It was in 1978 that locally brewed Carlsberg was launched on the Maltese market for the first time. This celebration coincides with the 75th anniversary of the foundation of Farsons.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Mr Farrugia said that this was an important day in the history of Farsons as the co-operation agreement which was being signed demonstrated the confidence shown by one of the largest brewing groups in the world in a Maltese brewery which over the past 75 years has also managed to establish a name for itself in the brewing industry. It is also a demonstration of trust in the professionalism of the Maltese brewers and management of Farsons.

Mr Farrugia said that Farsons had benefited greatly from the experience of Carlsberg since it signed its first licence agreement and he was sure that it shall continue to benefit through the renewed term of agreement at an important point in the development of the Maltese economic structures through the country's accession to the European Union.

Mr Wiggen referred to the good relations that have always existed between Farsons and Carlsberg. He said that it was indeed a pleasure for him to be in Malta at a time when the first 25 years of co-operation between the two companies was being celebrated. He said that he was confident that the new agreement would be of mutual benefit to the two companies.

During his visit to Malta, Mr Wiggen who was accompanied by Jens Peter Philbert, marketing manager of Carlsberg, visited the operation facilities at the Farsons Brewery.