His Excellency Saeed Al Hajri during a visit to New Zealand: The UAE supports regional and international pharmaceutical expansion
Auckland, June 14 / WAM / His Excellency Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajri, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Pharmaceutical Corporation, led a delegation of executive officials on a visit to New Zealand with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two countries, including the pharmaceutical industry sector. The delegation held a series of meetings with officials and representatives of companies specialized in this sector, and discussed opportunities for developing partnerships and expanding horizons of cooperation and investment.
His Excellency Al Hajri stressed that the UAE has established its position as an advanced regional center for pharmaceutical industries, and a strategic gateway to access markets that include about 2.5 billion people in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, benefiting from its advanced infrastructure, global logistical networks, and comprehensive economic agreements.
His Excellency held two meetings at the headquarters of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce with representatives of the New Zealand companies Douglas Pharmaceuticals and AFT Pharmaceuticals, in the presence of Ms. Nicole Roberton, Director of the Middle East and Africa Department at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a number of officials from both sides, where he reviewed the features of the pharmaceutical industry system in the country, explaining that the strategic importance of the UAE is not limited to the size of its local market, but extends to its role as a regional center for distribution, re-export and management. Regional operations of global pharmaceutical companies.
He pointed out that this role is based on an integrated system that includes advanced infrastructure for transport and logistics services, supported by extensive air connectivity networks provided by leading national companies, in addition to the pivotal role played by UAE ports in supporting trade movement and supply chains at the region level.
His Excellency stressed that the UAE has reached more than 36 Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with many countries of the world, which provide important competitive advantages for companies operating within the country, and contribute to facilitating the access of their products to foreign markets and enhancing their ability to expand regionally and internationally.
Regarding the regulatory environment, His Excellency Al Hajri explained that the Emirates Drug Corporation adopts a supportive approach to investment and innovation, by providing clarity and stability in pricing policies for pharmaceutical products, which gives investors a long-term vision that helps them make their investment decisions with confidence.
His Excellency stressed that the UAE supports regional and international pharmaceutical expansion, pointing to the growing global investments in the fields of pharmaceutical research and development within the country – as a center for serving surrounding markets – including a number of major international companies such as: “Eli Lilly” and “Novo Nordisk”.
During the meeting with representatives of AFT Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Hartley Atkinson, CEO of the company, reviewed its growth journey and its products that are marketed in 87 countries, noting that the UAE represents one of the important markets for the company.
He praised the regulatory environment in the country, stressing that it is characterized by clarity, transparency and flexibility of procedures, which contributes to facilitating drug registration processes and the expansion of international companies.
Atkinson reviewed a number of research and development projects that the company is working on, including developing innovative treatments that target urgent treatment needs, projects to treat some rare diseases, as well as a program to develop medicines that can be stored and transported without the need for refrigeration.
In the meeting with Douglas Pharmaceuticals, the company’s representatives reviewed its specialized work in research, development and manufacturing, in addition to its advanced expertise in manufacturing soft gelatin capsules, noting that its products are exported to more than 55 markets around the world.
The possibility of expanding the direct presence of companies in the UAE and benefiting from its position as a regional center for managing operations and accessing the region’s markets was also discussed.
At the conclusion of the two meetings, the participants praised the regulatory environment in the UAE and the attractive elements it provides that support the growth and expansion of companies, especially those operating in the pharmaceutical industry sector, including clarity of procedures and ease of investment.
The UAE provides an integrated environment for companies wishing to expand regionally or build strategic partnerships, allowing them to benefit from a growing investment system and a strategic geographical location that enables efficient access to the markets of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and North Africa.
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