King visits Hikma’s New Jersey plant, inaugurates expansion

AMMAN – His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday visited the US-based West-Ward Plant in New Jersey, US, a subsidiary of Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC and its agent in the US.

His Majesty’s stopover at the company came ahead of his arrival in New York to head the Jordanian delegation to the 70th UN General Assembly meeting.

The King met with Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ Vice Chairman Mazen  Darwazeh and board members, where he was briefed on the Jordanian company’s position in international markets and plans for development, a Royal Court statement said. 

They also discussed ways to enhance Jordan’s pharmaceutical industry and the country’s potential as a destination for investments in this field. 

Hikma is a multinational pharmaceutical group which was founded in 1978 in Jordan. Its sales worldwide constitute 7 per cent of Jordan’s total exports, and 80 per cent of its pharmaceutical exports. 

The company’s operations expand through 27 manufacturing facilities in 11 countries, including the US. It markets its products in 50 countries across the world.

In 2004, the group reported $1.489 billion in revenues, according to the Royal Court statement.  

It employs around 8,500 persons in all its facilities across the world, a third of whom are Jordanians. 

His Majesty inaugurated a new extension to the plant and toured the facility, where officials briefed him on its operations and products.

West-Ward Pharmaceuticals, which Hikma acquired in 1991, is a leading generic prescription medication provider in the US offering both oral solid and injectable pharmaceuticals to a growing number of chain stores, wholesalers, distributors, health systems and government agencies, according to the company’s website. 

Darwazeh said during the King’s visit that the facility produces 200 million injectables annually, all sold in the US.