Directors of Merck Group attend the launch ceremony for the new plant.[Photo/netda.gov.cn]?

Merck Group, a leading pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer from Germany, launched the construction of its pharmaceutical plant in the Nantong Economical and Technological Development Area (NETDA) of East China’s Jiangsu province on Aug 27.

The German pharmaceutical producer, investing 80 million euro ($105 million) for the project, will become the only multinational enterprise approved to produce essential drugs in China by the government.

The new plant, expected to go into operation in 2017, will focus on producing medicines for treating diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and thyroid disorders.

According to Merck’s directors, the company aims to make high quality medicines more accessible and affordable to Chinese patients through local production.