Green Cross to build plasma factory in Thailand
Green Cross President Cho Soon-tae, third from left, shakes hands with Phan Wannamethee, secretary general of the Thai Red Cross Society, at the National Blood Center in Bangkok, Jan. 4, after signing a contract to build a plasma factory in Thailand. With them are Dr. Soisaang Phikulsod, left, director of the National Blood Center, and Green Cross Executive Vice President Kim Young-ho. / Courtesy of Green Cross
By Park Yoon-bae
Green Cross Corp. has signed a $68.48 million (73 billion won) contract with the Thai Red Cross Society to build a plasma derivative plant in Thailand.
A company spokesman said Friday that the contract was signed between Green Cross Corp. President Cho Soon-tae and Phan Wannamethee, secretary general of the Thai Red Cross Society, at the National Blood Center in Bangkok, Jan. 4.
The spokesman said the company will soon hold a groundbreaking ceremony in order to complete the construction of the factory in Bang Phra, 100 kilometers south of Bangkok, by the end of 2014.
He said Green Cross Corp. plans to allow the Thai authorities to start the production of plasma derivatives in September 2015 after conducting a trial operation for several months.
Under the contract, Green Cross Corp. will transfer technology and provide training to the Thai side.
He added it is the first time that a local pharmaceutical firm has won a contract to construct such a plasma derivative factory abroad.
The plant, if completed, will produce such products as albumin and immunoglobulin.
The spokesman said that the Thai government has pressed ahead with the project to set up the factory to produce plasma derivatives by using blood supplied by Thais.
He quoted President Cho as saying at the signing ceremony, “It has been over 14 years since we have been cooperating with the Thai National Blood Center for plasma fractionation to provide highly qualified plasma derivative products.”
Cho was quoted as saying, “I believe such a long and fruitful relationship between both parties has resulted in making this project come through in good faith.”
In Asia, only four countries — South Korea, Japan, China and India — have facilities to produce plasma derivatives. Most countries in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East rely on imports of the derivatives.
Green Cross Corp. set up Asia’s largest plasma derivative factory in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province, in 2009. The company also established Green Cross China to make plasma products in China. It now exports plasma derivatives to more than 30 countries around the world.