By Tendai Chisiri
HARARE – Egypt has offered to partner with Zimbabwe to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing and regulatory cooperation, as both countries seek greater health security in Africa.
Speaking on Saturday, the final day of the Zimbabwe Pharmaceutical Industry Conference at Rainbow Towers, Dr. Maha Serag Eldin Kamel, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Zimbabwe, said pharmaceutical security “cannot be achieved through imports alone.”
“The pharmaceutical industry is an essential component of national health security, economic security and strategic independence,” she said. “It is about ensuring every African country can provide safe, effective, affordable and quality medicines.”
Ambassador Kamel outlined Egypt’s progress, noting the country’s pharmaceutical market reached USD 8.5 billion in 2025, with local production covering 91% of products and exports worth USD 1.3 billion. Egypt is now investing in active pharmaceutical ingredients, biotechnology, and digital regulation.
She congratulated Zimbabwe for achieving WHO Maturity Level 4 for medicines regulation in 2026, calling it a “collective African achievement.”
“Egypt stands ready to share its experience and build partnerships with Zimbabwe,” she said, highlighting manufacturing, technology transfer, R&D, and regulatory cooperation.
The Ambassador announced that the Egyptian Export Council for Medical Industries will lead a business mission to Zimbabwe from 16 to 18 September 2026 at Cresta Lodge Msasa.
The mission will facilitate B2B meetings between Egyptian and Zimbabwean companies in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, laboratory equipment, food supplements, cosmetics and veterinary products.
“I encourage Zimbabwean companies, hospitals, manufacturers and investors to make full use of this opportunity to build new partnerships,” she said.
The conference, held 3-5 September, brought together pharma stakeholders under the theme “Strengthening Zimbabwe’s Pharma Ecosystem for Resilience and Sustainability.”
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