MEXICO CITY, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. multinational medical equipment company Becton Dickinson will invest 200 million U.S. dollars in Mexico, Mexican President Felipe Calderon said on Monday.

    Becton Dickinson will build a new plant in the state of San Luis Potosi in central Mexico. It will also expand the existing plan in the municipality of Cuautitlan Izcalli in the state of Mexico, which, after expansion, will be the company's largest plant outside the United States.

    The investment will create 4,000 jobs, among which 1,000 will be directly created.

    Calderon said investment is fundamental for the recovery of Mexico's economy and creating jobs for Mexicans.

    He said Mexico is the world's third largest health products supplier, just behind Ireland and Germany.

    Vincent Forlenza, president of Becton Dickinson, said the company's operation in Mexico is fundamental to assure the fabrication of its medical products to meet the global demand.

    Becton Dickinson currently has 2,500 employees in Mexico City, as well as in Guadalajara in western Mexico and Nogales in northern Mexico.