J&J builds world's largest supply chain base

Xi'an Janssen, established in 1985, produces medicines for mental and neurological disorders as well as treatments for tumors, autoimmune, gastrointestinal and fungal diseases.

The company has carried out more than 50 cooperation projects in the fields of medicine, public health, medical research and development and social responsibility in the past 30 years.

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The investment agreement for the base was signed by J&J and officials from Xi'an High-tech Development Zone in Beijing on Feb 28. The project is made up of three parts: the new supply chain production base, Asia's largest production base for vaccines and an introduction and registration center for foreign biomedical projects into China, said An Jianli, director of the administration committee of Xi'an High-tech Development Zone.

An said that it was a significant decision to build the base in the zone as part of its global development strategy that recognized the strong investment environment in Xi'an city and Shaanxi province.

Rodriguez agreed with An that every time he visits Xi'an he feels like he is coming back home.

"The cooperation between Janssen and our zone will greatly promote the development of the bio-pharmaceutical industry in Xi'an because more multinational pharmaceutical companies and research institutes will follow in its footsteps and enter the zone, further increasing market competitiveness and the outreach of Johnson & Johnson," An said.

The zone will provide a good development environment for J&J and provide good services to ensure the project will be completed smoothly, the director said.

According to An, Xi'an High-tech Development Zone built a bio-pharmaceutical industrial park with an area of some 5 sq km. A total of 340 biomedical companies have started production there. In 2013 the firms in the park had about 40 billion yuan ($6.43 billion) in operating income.

Johnson & Johnson, founded in 1886 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the United States, is the world-leading manufacturer and service provider for healthcare products.