Egypt is stepping up efforts to expand its pharmaceutical exports, with the foreign ministry and the national drug regulator agreeing to strengthen co-ordination with diplomatic missions and promote Egyptian medicines in overseas markets.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty met the head of the Egyptian Drug Authority, Ali El-Ghamrawy, to discuss supporting pharmaceutical exports and expanding access to international markets, the authority said in a statement on Tuesday.
The officials discussed closer co-ordination between the regulator, the foreign ministry and Egyptian diplomatic missions abroad to promote Egyptian medicines and identify opportunities for cooperation and investment.
Ghamrawy said combining Egypt’s manufacturing and regulatory capabilities with diplomatic and economic efforts would enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian pharmaceuticals and open new markets.
“The pharmaceutical sector is a high-value-added industry and one of the pillars of boosting Egyptian exports,” he said.
Following the meeting, Ghamrawy held talks at the foreign ministry with assistant foreign ministers, ambassadors and heads of Egyptian diplomatic missions preparing to take up posts abroad. The discussions focused on promoting Egyptian pharmaceutical products, explaining the capabilities of the domestic industry and identifying the regulatory requirements of priority markets.
Ghamrawy said increasing pharmaceutical exports involved more than raising shipment volumes, stressing the importance of investment in technology, quality and innovation, as well as developing production and regulatory systems in line with international standards.
He added that Egypt’s industrial base, skilled workforce and evolving regulatory framework provided the country with the tools to expand its presence in foreign pharmaceutical markets, attract investment, support technology transfer and develop new partnerships.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to maintain co-ordination between the Drug Authority and the foreign ministry to support exports, open new markets and strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional centre for pharmaceutical manufacturing and regulatory services.
During his visit to the foreign ministry, Ghamrawy also attended a joint Egyptian-Burkinabe business forum hosted by Abdelatty. The event aimed to encourage direct contact between business communities, explore sustainable partnerships and increase trade and investment between Egypt and Burkina Faso.
The Drug Authority said its participation underscored the pharmaceutical sector’s potential to deepen economic and trade co-operation with African countries and help meet demand in African markets.
