Celltrion has announced it will start construction of its proposed third biopharmaceutical plant in Songdo, Incheon from 2023, which will have an annual output capacity of up to 200,000 liters, more than twice the combined of its two plants operating in the city, west of Seoul.

The announcement was made after Celltrion’s Chairman Seo Jung-jin and Incheon Metropolitan City Mayor Park Nam-choon signed a partnership agreement on efforts to foster Songdo as a global bio-industry hub. The two agreed to cooperate in the speedy establishment of Celltrion’s third plant, build Celltrion Town by attracting businesses and labs, raise a fund to create an industry ecosystem for biotech firms in Incheon, build Venture Plaza to help support startups and further efforts to localize materials necessary for life science research.

Seo said the construction of the planned third plant represents the first step to delivering on the company’s commitment to local economic development. Earlier, he vowed to invest 10 trillion won ($844 million) to create 110,000 jobs in the healthcare sector.

Celltrion also has a plan to build a 200,000-liter biopharma plant in Wuhan, China, which was announced in January.

Celltrion said it will work together with Incheon to help the city attract a training center for bio process technicians and engineers.

Incheon has been is in the process of securing independent supply of bio-health cleaners, glass copper tubes, and sodium hydroxide among others in cooperation with Celltrion, according to Mayor Park.

By Ji Hong-goo and Minu Kim

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