Pedro Sánchez underlines the key role of the pharmaceutical sector in the Government's commitment to science, territorial cohesion and quality employment

La Almunia de Doña Godina (Zaragoza)

Pedro Sánchez visits the Novartis production plant in Zaragoza (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

On Tuesday, World Cancer Day, the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, visited the Novartis production plant in La Almunia de Doña Godina, Zaragoza, where he underlined the key role of the pharmaceutical sector in the Government's commitment to science, territorial cohesion and quality employment.

Accompanied by the government delegate in Aragon, Fernando Beltrán, the chief executive defended that "we are a country devoted to science, with science, and together we are building prosperity". During his visit to the plant, which specialises in the production of radiopharmaceuticals used in the fight against cancer, Sánchez stressed that combatting this disease is "a collective task" and that Spain is a leader in Europe in clinical trials for cancer treatments and advanced therapies.

The President of the Government also welcomed the employment figures, which show that we have the lowest unemployment rate in the last 17 years, with the forecast of creating more than 400,000 jobs per year in 2025 and 2026, and that Spain will continue to be one of the main economies generating employment and economic growth in Europe and in the world.

In a context as difficult as the one Europe is going through, "and with the rumblings of trade wars", he highlighted Spain's leading position in the EU, among other factors, "thanks to the commitment of such cutting-edge industries so necessary for the welfare and prosperity of our country as the pharmaceutical sector".

Pedro Sánchez during his visit to the Novartis production plant | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

The chief executive highlighted the Government's commitment to scholarships and vocational training, and the resources to improve our public health system. In this regard, the chief executive stressed that support for the pharmaceutical sector accounts for 1.5% of our GDP and creates more than 36,000 direct jobs and 150,000 indirect jobs. It has an investment in R&D&I of €22 billion, 50% more than six years ago, to promote, retain and attract research talent; and the sector has a strategic project, the PERTE for cutting-edge health, earmarked with €2 billion.

The president stressed the importance of companies such as Novartis in the Executive's commitment to territorial cohesion to revitalise "a Spain full of opportunities far beyond the big cities", and the generation of quality, qualified and young employment. The La Almunia de Doña Godina plant is one of Novartis's four pioneering and innovative radiopharmaceutical facilities worldwide - one of the two in Europe with worldwide production - and in 2025 it will complete an investment of €53 million for its modernisation and expansion.

Non official translation