00:00Uzbekistan is becoming a regional hub for pharmaceutical production and innovation.
00:09At the heart of it, a new pharma park in the country's capital, bringing together R&D, logistics and training.
00:18What could it mean for Europe as it diversifies critical medicine supplies?
00:26Hello and welcome to the programme.
00:28Uzbekistan will be producing €440 million worth of pharmaceutical products a year by the end of 2025,
00:38with exports making up just over half that value.
00:42The new €1.2 billion Tashkent Pharma Park will drive further growth, while also creating 11,000 new jobs.
00:51Take a look at this.
00:52Spread over 1.9 million square metres,
01:01the Tashkent Pharma Park, when complete, is set to turbocharge the sector's expansion.
01:09A hub for distributing pharmaceutical products is already up and running.
01:13The products come from many countries, most of them from Europe, some of them from China and India and other countries,
01:22and we have around 60 to 70 million packs coming and going each month.
01:30Around 400 workers keep things moving here with products distributed all over Uzbekistan.
01:37In the future, it's set to become an export hub for Central Asia, too.
01:44Within a few years, we plan to expand from 0 to $50 million of export.
01:49We have already signed a few contracts with a major place from Europe, and we are keen to see other players to come.
01:55Alongside logistics, the new Pharma Park will also have a centre for biotech and genome research,
02:04a technical university and manufacturing facilities,
02:08and all within a free economic zone, offering tax incentives.
02:14There will be huge integration of all the pillars of the industry, and that's the key.
02:19On top of that, we're also focusing on not only developing the local companies,
02:23but also we're trying to attract foreign investors.
02:26The reason is different methodology, different experience, or different skills,
02:30and when you put all of them together, there will be a synergy.
02:35Established pharmaceutical companies are also driving up growth in the sector.
02:41This manufacturer is one of Uzbekistan's largest,
02:44making over 180 types of products, including tablets and ointments.
02:50It already exports to 11 countries.
02:54We want to expand our company to some other countries also,
02:59like Azerbaijan, some European countries, Turkey, and some African markets.
03:05We have experience, we have R&D centre, we know how to do it,
03:10so it's a good reason to expand the business and to supply the high-effective product in that market also.
03:17It's this kind of growth that Uzbekistan's looking to replicate,
03:22as part of its vision for the wider sector.
03:25By implementing international standards, we'll have more opportunity to go to European countries,
03:30or America, or other countries.
03:32This is where we're really right now working on,
03:35and we also have to prove that we are strong in R&D sector,
03:38and we're also doing, as an example, clinical trials in Uzbekistan.
03:42All paving the way for this Central Asian country to claim its place on the global pharmaceutical map.
03:54Let's speak now to Oybek Shaiqov from the Europe Uzbekistan Association for Economic Cooperation,
04:00who's in Brussels.
04:01What do you think this all means for Europe, Ben?
04:03Of course, the deregulation of Uzbekistan's pharmaceutical sector,
04:09bringing to the WTO standards, the production requirements as well,
04:14means that European companies have more opportunities to invest in Uzbekistan,
04:18especially for generic medicines, potential production,
04:21that ultimately might be able to expand into exports back to the European Union.
04:27But what about challenges, and how can they be navigated?
04:29Of course, the pharmaceutical sector is a very complex and very regulated sector.
04:34Ensuring high quality is extremely important.
04:37And I believe that the dialogue with the government that is taking place,
04:41also through Euros, is an extremely important element in that direction.
04:45Thank you very much indeed for your insights.
04:47Well, that's all we've got time for in this edition,
04:49but there's more business news at euronews.com.
04:52Thanks for watching, and bye for now.
04:59We'll see you next time.
