Japan's Toyo Aluminium to keep factory in southwestern France

The president of the southwestern French region of Aquitaine, Alain Rousset, reached an understanding about the future of the factory, in the village of Accous, after talks at Toyo Aluminium's headquarters here.

"We are going to continue to renew our efforts to develop our European market through Accous," Toyo Aluminium chief executive Masao Imasu said late yesterday.

Toyo Aluminium's unit in Europe will "maintain at the Accous site the current force of up to 143 people," said a joint statement signed by Imasu and Rousset.

In return, the Aquitaine region has pledged to "support investment plans for the business's research and development," the statement says.