By Joe McCabe

THE Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Michéal  Martin,  officially opened the new € 3.7m extension to the Shabra Plastics and Packaging plant in Castleblayney on Tuesday. The plant currently employs 60. The new extension will be used for washing and reprocessing used plastic bottles and will result in an additional 35 jobs.  Shabra is also to invest a further €1.5m in Research and development at the plant. Several hundred people were present at the official opening representing a wide cross- section of business, politics and other interested parties.  Business representatives a the official opening included those from Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, India, Holland and the UK.

Shabra Director, Ms Rita Shah,  welcomed Minister Martin and all present which included representatives of the Kenyan and South African embassies. Ms Shah paid tribute to Shabra Management and staff.  “The ‘can do attitude’ to new ideas is an essential trait of Shabra employees. Nobody is doing what we are doing here. ”  Ms Shah predicted that with the opening of the new extension Shabra exports will grow significantly. 

Minister Martin said that the opening of the new facility was an important day for Shabra,  Castleblayney and for recycling in Ireland.   “Shabra has used the talent and skills  of its workers  to development new technology  which will benefit the environment for years to come.”

Tributes were also paid to Enterprise Ireland and that organisations support of  Shabra. Its CEO, Frank Ryan also spoke and congratulated Shabra on its new extension. “We are going to back Shabra going forward,” he said.

Oliver Brady said that it was a privilege to see so many friends of Shabra Plastics at the official opening. He paid particular thanks to Gerry O’Toole of the Monaghan County Enterprise Board for his invaluable help in Shabra’s early years. “The Monaghan County Enterprise Board put us on the map,” he said. He also thanked Deputy Seymour Crawford for his efforts on the company’s behalf. Oliver finished   in his now customary style “Up Monaghan,” he concluded to the laughter of all present.