The US’ Pfizer group has signed a joint venture agreement with state animal foods company Office National des Aliments de Betail (Onab) to build a veterinary pharmaceuticals unit at Bou Ismail in the coastal province of Tipasa.

Announcing the project, Onab president Ali Boularas said start-up of a unit to produce 300 tonnes a year of pharmaceuticals in soluble powder form is scheduled for late 1999, with output to double in a second phase. Boularas said output will mainly be for the poultry industry, and Pfizer’s Aviax and Coxistac - which are now imported - will be produced at Bou Ismail.

The Pfizer Algerie Sante & Nutrition Animale joint venture is capitalised at $3.5 million, with 60 per cent of the equity held by Pfizer and the rest by Onab. Foreign currency costs will mainly be for equipment.

Pfizer’s regional manager Daniel Denaud said the unit will be staffed by Algerians trained abroad, with a total workforce of 50. This is already the case for a Pfizer unit making veterinary products in Oran.