The US-based pharmaceutical giant Pfizer unveiled its new manufacturing facility on Friday in this port city of Northeast China's Liaoning province after 20 years of its presence in China.

"The new manufacturing facility will almost triple the production capacity of cephalosporin vials, an antibiotic used for the treatment of bacterial infections in the Dalian site, meeting rapidly growing demand in China and other markets," Ahmet Esen, country manager of Pfizer China said.

The move is part of Pfizer's strategy to continue to invest in its Dalian site, its first manufacturing facility set up in China in 1989, in a bid to transform it into one of the firm's most important global suppliers, said Allan Gabor, regional president of North Asia, Emerging Market Business Unit of Pfizer.

Despite the current global financial crisis, Pfizer invested $6 million in the expansion. The Dalian site was set up with a total investment of $60.4 million.

"Even in the middle of this worldwide economic crisis, we see China as a key strategic partner," he said.

The Pfizer Dalian site was also the first pharmaceutical company in China to gain a GMP certificate. "The Dalian site has also gained many other certificates. Therefore, it is easier to bring new products to China and to export to other countries," Gabor said.

It has also received praise from other corners including Xia Deren, the mayor of Dalian. "The Dalian site of Pfizer is the biggest US-invested company which went operation in the city now," Xia said.

(China Daily February 28, 2009)