Global pharmaceutical giant Hikma has launched its third production facility in Tunisia, a 50-million-dinar (approx. €15 million) plant in the Sidi Thabet industrial zone, signaling strong foreign investor confidence and advancing the country’s ambitions to become a key player in the African and European drug market.
The new unit, inaugurated in the presence of Tunisian officials, is set to produce a range of essential medicines targeting cardiovascular disease, diabetes, digestive issues, and nervous system disorders, as well as antibiotics.
Minister of Health, Mustafa Farjani, hailed the project as a strategic asset for the nation. “The opening of the third production unit of a leading pharmaceutical company represents a qualitative addition to the path towards national, African, and Arab health sovereignty,” he stated during the ceremony, framing it as a “fundamental pillar of the country’s health security.”
The investment underscores Tunisia’s growing appeal as a manufacturing base for the pharmaceutical industry. Executives from Hikma emphasized that the facility, equipped with advanced technology, will serve a dual purpose: supplying high-quality, affordable medicines to the local market and acting as an export hub.
“Tunisia is on the right path for investment, especially in the healthcare sector,” said Mazen Darwazah, Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ president for the Middle East and North Africa. He confirmed that the new factory “will also export to Europe.”
This expansion comes at a time of rapid growth for Tunisia’s pharmaceutical market. Industry projections indicate the market is set to more than double from $2.15 billion in 2023 to $5.03 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate of 12.9%.
Hikma is not alone in recognizing this potential. Other international players, such as Sanofi Aventis, have also strengthened their presence in the North African country through local partnerships, aiming to boost research and modernize production. The move positions Tunisia as an increasingly critical node for pharmaceutical manufacturing and export for the wider region.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
