BASF has opened expanded BASF Pharma(Callanish)facility on the Isle of Lewis,Scotland.
The facility follows BASF's acquisition of controlling stake in Lewis based Equateq,a technology company in lipid chemistry and pharmaceutical omega-3 fatty acid production.
Scotland First Minister,Alex Salmond said the facility demonstrates confidence in the skilled workforce of Lewis and the future economy of the Western Isles and Scotland as a whole.
"As a world leader in their field,the opportunities brought about by BASF's acquisition of Equateq have already seen an increase in staff numbers of 22 per cent to 52 people,''Salmond added.
BASF Pharma(Callanish)managing director Adam Kelliher said,"Thanks to the outstanding commitment we have received from the project team,our partners and all our colleagues in Callanish,we have completed this project in record time and we are now fully operational.''
Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise have awarded more than£1m and£2.95m respectively to support the development of the facility.
