Jones Engineering Group, a leading Irish engineering contracting group, has signed a €20 million ($27.1 million) deal with a major multinational FMCG client to enter the pharmaceuticals sector in Saudi Arabia.

Originally founded in Ireland in 1890, Jones today boasts of operations in the UK, mainland Europe, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

The company set up its operations in the kingdom in 2011 and has since then been known for its expertise in delivering mechanical, electrical and fire fighting solutions.

It continues to develop its presence in Saudi with a strategic focus on the food and beverage, pharmaceutical and health care industries, said a senior official.
 
''Our continued growth in Saudi Arabia is a testament to the work of our whole team. We are proud to employ some of the best engineers and craftspeople in the world, including a number of Saudi nationals . Their efforts and skills allow us to deliver exceptional quality for our clients," remarked John Hartnett, Group Director, with responsibility for the GCC area.

"We put significant emphasis on developing the talents of young apprentices who will go on to become the experts in their industry and enable the company to achieve even greater success in the future," stated Hartnett while speaking at the Enterprise Ireland Trade and Investment Mission to Saudi, Qatar and UAE.

Speaking in Riyadh during his trade mission to Saudi, the Taoiseach Enda Kenny said: ''This is a highly significant announcement for Jones  and is a clear statement of the continued success of leading Irish companies in winning new business in the Saudi market."

"This is a group that continues to impress with its achievements in the region. They have a well-earned reputation for absolute quality and innovation and I look forward to seeing this growth continue over the coming years," he stated.

Minister for Jobs Richard Bruton TD said the announcement by Jones was very welcome and showed what was possible for Irish companies in this region.

"Construction and engineering are areas which we have targeted as part of our Action Plan for Jobs, and Jones Engineering's success in winning major contracts in Saudi Arabia is a great endorsement of the strength of Irish exporting businesses," he added.-TradeArabia News Service