US biopharmaceutical company could bring 1,500 jobs
Sources close to the talks, which are said to be at a delicate stage, have indicated the company, Amgen, is prepared to invest €1.3 billion developing a huge plant in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, making it one of the biggest single projects ever announced in this country.
Senior executives from the company, which is the world’s largest biopharmaceutical and employs 14,000 people, are understood to have visited Cork earlier this week.
An IDA spokeswoman confirmed discussions are still taking place, but said she wouldn’t comment on any details while negotiations were ongoing.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Micheal Martin also refused to comment at this early stage.
However, it is understood that the company has indicated it could create 1,000 jobs immediately with the prospect of increasing that by a further 500 if the project is successful.
The proposed Amgen project outstrips an announcement in August 2000 when IT company EuroConex created 1,080 jobs in Arklow, County Wicklow.
Local community council chairman Anthony Barry said the IDA had brought a number of good projects to his town over the years, but the arrival of Amgen would be a major coup for the area.
“We have been assured this is a good, clean industry and it would be very welcome,” Mr Barry said.
The Carrigtwohill site is so far being favoured ahead of other sites examined by the company in Singapore and Switzerland.
Amgen, which has its headquarters in California and which was named Forbes company of the year in 2004, opened a small sales office in Dublin two years ago to market its products.
