Two firms to create 370 jobs

THE economy received a major boost yesterday with news that more than 370 jobs are being created by two international companies in Galway and Cork.

A €70 million factory is planned in a start-up company by German drugs group Altana, which will give work to 150 people at Carrigtwohill, Co Cork.

Expansion at the US-owned Cigna medical claims processing centre in Loughrea, Co Galway, is to provide 220 jobs over the next three years. More than 100 people are already employed at the Cigna processing centre, which began operations 13 years ago. IDA Ireland said the two announcements confirmed Ireland's continuing ability to attract major overseas investment at a time of international uncertainty. The IDA sees the multinational pharmaceutical sector, which is predominantly based in the Cork area, as one of a small number of sectors which it expects will create thousands of jobs during 2003.