Turkish firm to create 30 new jobs in Wicklow

Turkish owned VitrA Tiles, has announced it is to invest €8m in the construction of a new plant in Arklow, creating an additional 30 new jobs and bringing the number employed to 120 people.

Details of the new development were announced today at a ceremony attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Turkey, Abdullah Gül and Minister Dick Roche.

VitrA Tiles Ireland was established in Arklow in 1998 and is the only ceramic tile manufacturer in Ireland.

The new plant raises the total value of its investment in Ireland to €16.6m.

With the support of the new plant, VitrA Tiles aims to raise its turnover to €20.8m next year and to increase its market share in Ireland to 8% and in the UK to 2.5%.

The company is owned by Eczacibasi Holding, one of the leading groups in the Turkish private sector, which employs over 1,000 people in two facilities in Turkey.