Algeria and Germany are taking their partnership in the pharmaceutical industry to the next level, with a focus on technology transfer and sustainable industrial capacities. The Algerian Minister of Pharmaceutical Industry, Ouacim Kouidri, recently called for moving beyond simple manufacturing to strengthen knowledge and technology transfer. This push is part of a broader effort to bolster the national pharmaceutical industry, as outlined in a conference themed "Health and Sovereignty: The Algerian-German Axis for a Strong National Pharmaceutical Industry."
A significant partnership between Algeria's public group Saidal and Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim was highlighted during the conference. This partnership involves the localization of production for a treatment targeting patients with rare and advanced pulmonary fibrosis, as well as innovative cancer and biosimilar medications. According to Minister Kouidri, such projects mark a crucial step in localizing innovative medications and enhancing national technological and innovation capacities.
The Algerian Ministry of Pharmaceutical Industry aims to continue supporting such partnerships and encourage productive investment to boost national production, improve the availability of modern treatments, and explore new export opportunities, particularly in African markets. Currently, local production covers 82% of the national market's medication needs, rising to 95% when considering the integrated production chain.
Industry stakeholders have expressed optimism about the growing economic relations between Algeria and Germany. Abdelouahed Kerrar, President-Director General of Biopharm and Vice-President of the Algerian Council of Economic Renewal (CREA), noted the positive dynamic in bilateral economic relations and assured that CREA supports closer ties between businesses from both countries.
The importance of training and expertise exchange was emphasized by Boubaker Hammou, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Saidal. Meanwhile, M'hand Messaoudi, Director General of Bayer Algeria, called for continued mastery of technologies, research development, and innovation strengthening to valorize national competencies.
Derek O’Leary, Regional Director of Boehringer Ingelheim, reaffirmed his group's commitment to developing long-term partnership and cooperation relations with Algerian enterprises. This commitment reflects a broader industry trend towards collaborative growth and sustainable development in the pharmaceutical sector.
As Algeria and Germany continue to enhance their cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry, the focus remains on building sustainable industrial capacities and fostering innovation. With local production already covering a significant portion of the national market, future prospects look promising for further growth and potential expansion into international markets.
Key points
- Algeria's local pharmaceutical production covers 82% of its national market needs.
- The partnership between Saidal and Boehringer Ingelheim focuses on producing innovative treatments for rare diseases.
- Algeria aims to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry through technology transfer and sustainable industrial capacities.
