Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem participated in the inauguration of the EIPICO 3 factory, owned by the Egyptian International Pharmaceutical Industries Company (EIPICO), in 10th of Ramadan City.
Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar and senior medical officials were present at the inauguration ceremony.
Built on an area of 10,500 square metres with investments exceeding $100 million, EIPICO 3 forms part of the company’s manufacturing complex covering 130,500 square metres.
EIPICO produces 425 pharmaceutical products with an annual capacity of 327 million packs, a 60% local component, exports worth $60 million to more than 60 countries, accounts for 25% of Egypt’s pharmaceutical exports and 30% of exports to Africa, and provides 5,000 direct jobs.
For his part, Minister Hashem praised the factory’s high production standards, precision and safety, noting that it will ensure a sustainable supply of high-quality, affordable medicines while supporting Egypt’s strategy to localise pharmaceutical manufacturing.
He said the facility will produce around 14 medicines for the treatment of cancer, blood disorders, fertility, kidney disease and anaemia, strengthening domestic production of biological medicines and biosimilars.
The minister also stressed that the pharmaceutical and medical industries are among the ministry’s highest priorities and a key pillar of national security, given their role in securing essential medicines, reducing imports, creating jobs and supporting economic growth.
He affirmed the ministry’s commitment to encouraging advanced technologies and specialised expertise, supporting factory modernisation, facilitating exports and enabling pharmaceutical companies to expand production of medicines for critical diseases, with the aim of positioning Egypt as a regional manufacturing and export hub.
He described EIPICO 3 as a successful model of integration between the Ministries of Industry and Health and Population and partnership with the private sector, promoting technology transfer and industrial localisation in line with international standards.
EIPICO 3 is the first factory in Egypt and the Middle East to manufacture biosimilars and generic medicines entirely from genetically modified cells using tissue culture technology to produce and purify active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The factory will manufacture medicines in pre-filled injection, cartridge and film formats.
During the visit, the ministers inspected biosimilar production lines, automated filling lines and single-use bioreactors, reviewing the latest pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies.
