The Swiss pharma group is to build the new facility, estimated to cost EUR 105m, adjacent to the existing production location of its Slovenian subsidiary Lek that currently has a workforce of 246.

Nick Page of Novartis told the STA on the occasion that the good results so far and a qualified workforce was what fuelled the company's decision to expand in Prevalje, which had faced strong competition from the group's other locations.

Page is convinced the good results will persist at the Prevalje location, where expanded production will be launched in 2019.

The location will continue to specialise in the production of a penicillin-based broad-spectrum antibiotic that is sold on 60 markets.

Page stressed the company constantly invested in the workforce and highlighted the strong support from the local community, while he lamented the poor transport links.

Since acquiring Lek at the end of 2002, Novartis has invested EUR 1.9bn in Slovenia, EUR 1bn of which went for development.

It is currently also planning to build a new logistics centre adjacent to the Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport.

The 35,000 m2 facility, to be built and managed by German logistics company Kuehne + Nagel, will be Novartis's biggest warehouse in Europe and one of its largest globally.

Page said that no other investments in Slovenia were currently in the pipeline, while adding that plans were constantly adjusted to market demands.

As regards the business environment in Slovenia, the executive expressed his belief that future tax measures will make the country even more attractive for foreign investment.

The ceremony was also attended by Prime Minister Miro Cerar, who said that the new investment by Lek represented a strong incentive for further development and creation of jobs and an important proof that Slovenia was an attractive investment destination.