AN ONLINE marketplace for the manufacturing industry will create more than 50 jobs in the next two years in Co Louth.

MFG.com will establish an operation centre for its operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in Drogheda, creating the high-skilled positions.

The centre will provide operational support to the region and will centralise functions such as customer technical support, outbound sales, accounting and management, human resources and EMEA IT support.

MFG.com’s general manager for Europe, Stefan Bachmann, said the Drogheda operation would be a “pivotal hub” for the region. Recruitment for the new positions will begin immediately, the company said.

Founded in 2000, MFG.com is a large online sourcing marketplace for the global manufacturing industry that connects buyers and suppliers through a proprietary on-demand platform.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O’Keeffe said the investment was “strategically important” for the north-east.

“Drogheda can provide the skills base and expertise to draw an innovative world leader such as MFG.com, demonstrating our capacity to strengthen the employment profile in the regions as Ireland enters economic recovery,” he said.

IDA chief executive Barry O’Leary said the jobs announcement was in line with IDA’s strategy to drive regional economic development through the location of high-value investments in regional locations.

The news is one of a series of jobs announcements in recent weeks. On Tuesday, AOL Global Operations said it would create 50 jobs in Dublin over the next two years. Games publisher EA and insurance firm Axa plan to create 200 jobs each.