Egypt is taking a major step toward strengthening its pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities with the establishment of a USD 120 million pharmaceutical industrial hub in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). 

Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Egypt’s Minister of Health and Population, witnessed the signing ceremony at the Ministry of Health headquarters in the Administrative Capital. The project will be located within SCZONE's Sokhna Integrated Industrial Zone and will span an area of 96,828 square meters. It will focus on producing active and inactive raw materials, intermediate substances, concentrates, and chemicals essential to pharmaceutical production.

The agreement was signed by key representatives, including Dr. Mohamed Abdel Gawad, Vice Chairman of SCZONE for Investment and Promotion Affairs; Mr. Ahmed Saad, CEO of SCZONE Istithmar Investment Company; and Dr. Ahmed Saeed Kilani, Chairman of Arab API Company. 

"This project reflects SCZONE’s commitment to localising pharmaceutical industries in Egypt and becoming a regional hub for this sector," said Waleid Gamal El-Dien, Chairman of SCZONE. "It represents a qualitative shift in the pharmaceutical industry, aligning with Egypt’s vision to achieve self-sufficiency in essential medicines and reduce the supply-demand gap in the local market," added El-Dien.

SCZONE has already achieved success in this field with projects such as the Ateco Pharma factory, specialising in intravenous injection drugs, and the Gennvax factory for biological vaccines and serums. The Ateco Pharma facility, located in the Sokhna Industrial Zone, spans 20,000 square meters with an investment of approximately 1 billion Egyptian pounds. Meanwhile, the Gennvax factory, covering 49,000 square meters, has an investment value of USD 150 million.

SCZONE has allocated 4 million square meters for a dedicated pharmaceutical industrial zone, developed in collaboration with the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement (UPA).