Foundation Laid for Turkey's First Domestic Plasma Production Facility

Groundbreaking Ceremony Held for Turkey's First Domestic Plasma Production Facility ISTANBUL (AA) – Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Industry and Technology Minister Mustafa Varank highlighted that this high-tech facility will generate 450 jobs once operational and ensure that the TRY 1.2 billion annually paid abroad for these products remains within Turkey. Noting that Turkey's first domestic plasma production facility has an investment value of EUR 550 million, Varank stated, "With this facility, blood products will be manufactured that are currently produced in only 12 centers worldwide and had not previously been produced in Turkey. In other words, this factory will be the 13th facility globally in this field." Maxicells Board Chairman Dr. Hakan Kazancı noted that work on this major and strategic project began under the Plasma Products Procurement Project Agreement signed between the Social Security Institution and Maxicells in August 2018, and that the project continues with the same determination and conviction as on its first day. He said, "We are working intensively with leading global technology companies BIOTEST AG and Camengineer, whose presence here today fills us with pride." Kazancı emphasized that the production facility will work to manufacture and deliver to patients medicines used in treating antibody deficiency, hemophilia and hereditary immune system diseases, as well as in supplementing blood components lost after major surgical operations. Kazancı stated, "When this investment is completed, our facility will be the first of its kind in Turkey and the 13th in the world. While the facility is being constructed, we plan to bring our machinery and equipment into operation and have products rolling off the production line by the end of 2023. Once operational, our facility will generate annual savings of TRY 6 billion and deliver a major blow to the current account deficit. Our priority is to meet domestic market demand and then move to export these products globally in subsequent phases."