New dates for Maghreb Pharma Expo have been announced by Easyfairs Northeral, the organiser of the annual international tradeshow for the pharmaceutical industry in North Africa. 

 

According to a statement, the largest pharmaceutical technology tradeshow in Africa will now be held from February 9 to 11, 2021 at Algiers International Conference Center in Algiers, Algeria. Over 2800 professionals and decision makers from North Africa will meet over 200 exhibitors at a venue spread across 9000 sq m and will be able to attend more than 30 conferences, the statement added.

 

In this context, the Algerian Pharmaceutical Industry Minister, Lotfi Benbahmed, announced last month that Algeria plans to export the equivalent of $5 billion worth of locally produced drugs. An approach that will be based on local producers and even on foreign pharmaceutical companies present in Algeria: "By 2025, Algeria, through the capacities of its pharmaceutical industry, plans to export quantities of drugs equal to that which it imports, to rebalance its accounts," he indicated.

 

 

Olivier-Hicham Allard, the organiser of the expo, explained: "This mission-driven event has been supporting the development of the local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacities in North Africa for 8 years and contributed actively to switch the drug importation costs into local manufacturing investments. We are observing an exciting evolution where local manufacturers focused in the beginning on pure generic products but are now increasingly looking to extend their portfolio by exploring biotechnology manufacturing equipment, OTC products ingredients, food supplement formulas, innovative packaging, medical device and even dermocosmetics. 

 

“We are deeply convinced that Algeria and the whole Maghreb region, thanks to its strategic position between Africa and Europe can become one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in the world. Our mission as organisers of this event is to support the local pharmaceutical industry as much as we can to achieve this objective."

 

Gathering over 200 international exhibitors from 25 countries, this tradeshow brings all ingredients, packaging, production lines, clean room, turnkey project and laboratory equipment suppliers at the same place to contribute to the acceleration of the local manufacturing capacities, the organisers said.—TradeArabia News Service