Mary Harney, Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, today (Tuesday, 2nd February, 1999) announced details of two Japanese projects that are bringing 149 jobs to Dublin and Limerick. These jobs are the result of a total investment of £14.4 million by these companies.

TDK Corporation, a leading world class corporation, is to establish a major European R & D Development Centre and pilot manufacturing plant in Dublin, with the support of IDA, and will create 100 high quality jobs within the next five years.

Ophtecs Corporation, a leading Japanese manufacturer of contact lens cleaning solutions and eye care products, is to set up its new European facility at the Eurotechnopole site on the Shannon Development National Technological Park in Limerick. The new Irish subsidiary, Ophtecs Ireland Ltd., will employ 49 people.

Making the announcement, following meetings with executives of both companies in Tokyo, Japan the Tánaiste said "The Government is committed to attracting high quality businesses to Ireland. Today, through the intensive work of both IDA and Shannon Development, they have been successful in promoting Ireland as a prime European location for such businesses."

TDK Corporation The Tánaiste made the announcement following her meeting in Tokyo today with the Executive Managing Director of TDK, Dr. Saito. She said that the project would involve investment of excess of £6 million and that up to 100 high quality jobs would be created by TDK within the next five years. The European R & D Centre will undertake medium term R & D to complement the long term development work being undertaken at TDK's three R & D centres in Japan. It will work closely with customer R & D groups to develop the next generation of radio frequency components.

"This decision by TDK is a very significant one coming from a global leader with superiority in electronics technology. It is a major breakthrough for IDA Ireland both in its drive for high value and high skills industries and in its marketing in Japan," the Tánaiste said.

In the first phase of its investment TDK will establish an R & D Centre which will be involved in the development of radio frequency technologies, especially for the mobile telecommunications markets. Up to 47 highly skilled scientists will be employed in this research and development activity in Dublin, which will have close links with Universities in Ireland and in the UK

As a second phase, in the third year, TDK also plans to establish a pilot manufacturing plant whose job it will be to design and test production processes for the newly developed components, prior to them being put into large scale production at other factories for global markets.

"The TDK decision to establish such a prestigious facility in Ireland will provide some of the most challenging opportunities for Irish graduates to be at the forefront of the telecommunications developments globally, in the years ahead", said the Tánaiste. She added that TDK already has up to 10 Irish graduates employed in research, sales, marketing and finance. Many of these were employed as a result of the very successful FAS graduate placement programme for Irish graduates in Japan, a programme in which TDK participated regularly over the years.

Ophtecs Corporation "This investment by Ophtecs is a significant development for the Eurotechnopole project, which was set up by Shannon Development in a joint venture operation with IBIC, a Tokyo based consultancy company, to facilitate the creation of a unique centre of Japanese investment. This investment is the culmination of extensive work we have undertaken with Ophtecs" the Tánaiste said after her meeting Mr. Toyoaki Yoneda, President and CEO and other senior executives .

The new operation will involve a capital investment of £4.4m (5.6m euro) and the construction of a new 3,344 square metres (36,000 sq.ft.) facility where Ophtecs will manufacture its Bioclen contact lens care products for the Japanese market. "The economic benefits derived from the project will extend to materials, services and construction jobs prior to start-up, the creation of 49 new jobs, and incremental spending in services in the local economy, in sub-contract manufacturing, energy, telecommunications and freight". the Tánaiste said.

"We are delighted that the company has chosen to set up at the National Technological Park which we continue to develop to meet the fast changing needs of international industry", Mr. Paul Sheane, Chief Executive, Shannon Development, said welcoming the announcement.