World's Leading Fragrance and Flavour Producer to Set up its First Development Facility in the Middle East at Nucleotide Laboratory Complex

Dubai: 16 February, 2010 - Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), the major life sciences hub in the Middle East and a member of TECOM Investments, today announced it is set to host the regional office of Firmenich SA, the international developer of perfumes and flavours.

As the world's largest privately-owned fragrance and flavour developer, the Swiss company will utilize its new facilities at the state-of-the-art four-storey Nucleotide Laboratory Complex at DuBiotech to create new fragrances and flavors that cater to clients in the region.

With an annual turnover of 2.641 billion Swiss Francs (USD $2.462 billion) at end-June 2009, and over 5,600 employees worldwide in over 50 countries, Firmenich has a client portfolio that includes some of the world's most prestigious flavour and perfume brands.

Dr. Marco Baccanti, Executive Director, DuBiotech, said: "We are delighted to welcome a global leader such as Firmenich to our life sciences business park. The cluster now reaches the important critical mass of 65 companies from all over the world, active in all the fields of life sciences industry. The decision of Firmenich to base its regional operations at DuBiotech is another strong testament to our success."

Patrick Firmenich, Chief Executive Officer of Firmenich, said: "We are extremely delighted to launch our regional offices at DuBiotech, and we feel confident this marks the beginning of a new and exciting chapter in Firmenich's growth.  As a company whose roots go back 115 years, the foundation of our success has been in understanding the unique needs of our varied customers worldwide and providing them with fragrances and flavours that satisfy their evolving tastes."

The Nucleotide Laboratory Complex at DuBiotech is designed to house biotech, life sciences and pharmaceutical activities ranging from research and development, diagnostic, analytical and equipment training activities.

Major global companies that have recently set up at DuBiotech include MAQUET Middle East, a market innovator for operating room systems and intensive care units, and Mubadala Healthcare's establishment of the National Reference Lab (NRL), an initiative in partnership with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp), one of the world's largest and most experienced clinical laboratory companies.

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About Firmenich
Firmenich is the world's largest privately-owned company in the fragrance and flavour business. Founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895, it has created many of the world's best-known perfumes and flavors that we enjoy each day. Its passion for smell and taste is at the heart of its success. It is renowned for its creativity and innovation, as well as its exceptional understanding of consumer trends. Each year, it invests around 10% of its turnover in R&D, reflecting its continuous desire to understand, share and sublimate the best that nature has to offer.

About DuBiotech:
Established in February 2005, the Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech) is a leading life sciences cluster in the Middle East, and a member of TECOM Investments. The free zone currently hosts 65 major pharmaceutical firms including Pfizer, Genzyme, Merck-Serono and Amgen, as well as companies specialized in biomedical and scientific devices, biotechnology, cosmesis, and enzymes.

DuBiotech offers flexible laboratory space as one of the key components of the sprawling business park. In addition to hosting a range of assets varying from offices to warehouses and land for manufacturing, the 22 million sq. ft. biotechnology cluster enjoys a strategic location with world-class infrastructure.

A number of free zone-associated incentives such as full ownership, tax-free profit repatriation and business friendly environment that DuBiotech offers makes the cluster an ideal destination for life sciences companies seeking to address the fast growing regional markets.

For more information, please contact:
Salam Kitmitto
JIWIN Public Relations
Tel: +971 4 433 2547
Mob: +971 50 276 9286
Email: Salam.Kitmitto@jiwin.ae

© Press Release 2010