RAK Ghani Glass, a JV between Ghani Group from Pakistan, Ras Al Khaimah Investment Authority (Rakia), JS Group and Saudi-based Swicorp, opened its new $28 million pharmaceutical glass container manufacturing plant in the emirate.

Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, inaugurated the new factory at Al Jazeera Al Hamra on Saturday in the presence of Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud Al Qasimi, and senior officials from RAK Government, JS Group and Swicorp.

The plant has an annual production capacity of 44,000 tons, which is equivalent to 600 million lightweight pharmaceutical bottles.

Speaking at the launch, Sheikh Saud said, 'The Government of Ras Al Khaimah has taken care to provide businesses with the right conditions for growth and investment including implementation of key economic reforms and augmentation of infrastructure which has helped the emirate to attract investments from across the world.'

'The government’s effort to encourage the development of the manufacturing sector has resulted in industry becoming a major contributor to RAK GDP,' he noted.

Imtiaz Ahmad Khan, chief executive officer of Ghani Group said the new glass plant was the most technologically advanced facility of its kind in the region and positioned to develop as one of the leading pharmaceutical glass packaging manufacturers globally.

'The company would deliver European-quality light weight pharmaceutical glass containers and intends to leverage the superb infrastructure, modern transportation network and seamless connectivity available in RAK,' he added.

According to Khan, the RAK Ghani Glass plant is the only one in the Mena region with a 'class 100,000 Clean Room facility' which would enable it to meet the stringent quality standards of major pharma companies across the world.

Dr Khater Massaad, CEO of Rakia, said that the addition of RAK Ghani Glass to the growing list of industrial ventures in the emirate is yet another acknowledgement of the competitive strengths Ras Al Khaimah has as a preferred manufacturing destination.

RAK Ghani Glass already exports to 60 pharma majors spread across 22 countries. The plant is situated on a 100,000 sq m plot in the Rakia industrial zone with a covered area of 12,000 sq m.

Rakia has managed to attract $3 billion industrial investment to the emirate resulting in the setting up of over 400 industrial establishments and creating more than 70,000 jobs in the process, he added.-TradeArabia News Service