Croatia’s JGL pharmaceutical company employs 85 new workers despite coronavirus crisis

(Photo: Jadran Galenski Laboratorij (JGL) )

ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) – Despite a decrease in consumer buying power caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Jadran Galenski Laboratorij (JGL) pharmaceutical company has employed 85 new workers and ensured an investment of HRK 373 million, JGL said on Monday.

JGL executive director Mislav Vucic has said that he is proud of the results achieved in the current challenging times thanks to a quality strategy, operational flexibility and enormous enthusiasm and commitment by JGL employees in Croatia and other markets.

He added that maintaining the system’s stability enabled solidarity towards the local and broader social community throughout the entire year.

Vucic underscored that the company would continue with its strategic projects in 2021, investing in its brands, markets and technology.

Recently JLG signed a contract with the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) for the Integra 2020 project, valued at HRK 373 million, which will enable it to step out onto the international market.

The company plans to invest in sterile pharmaceutical production, R&D, a new pilot plant and a robotised logistics-distribution centre. The project is expected to increase capacities for the production of sterile pharmaceutical solutions by 60% and integrate the research and quality process at a single location in Rijeka.

The project will enable JGL to continue producing the sterile ophtalmic preparations of its strategic partner from Poland in Croatia and continue exporting medicines produced in Croatia to Poland and other markets. This way, the company is strengthening its and the national pharmaceutical industry’s export capacities.

Vucic said that the crisis caused by the pandemic would certainly have a major impact on the economy but it had also once again pointed out the significance of having a strong industry based on highly sophisticated technology.

“That is why we consider Integra 2020 to be a capital project that will position us even more strongly on the global pharmaceutical map and enable us to produce an additional 41 million sterile sprays, eye drops and BoV (Bag on Valve) products, intended primarily for export. Thanks to this investment, we are significantly raising the company’s development-technological competencies and its global competitiveness,” said Vucic.