Tanzania eyes East Africa’s pharmaceutical hub crown

Pharmaceutical Industry Development in Tanzania

Tanzania has initiated a program aimed at developing its local pharmaceutical industry. The primary objective is to reduce reliance on imported medicines while establishing the country as a manufacturing center for East Africa.

Currently, over 80% of medicines and medical equipment used in Tanzania are imported, costing the nation approximately one billion dollars annually.

Dr. Francis Mallya, a Medical Practitioner and Medical Supply Chain Specialist, provided insights into the program, addressing the following key areas:

The major hurdles Tanzania must overcome to make local drug manufacturing viable; The potential of the Investment Acceleration Taskforce to convert policy into actionable, bankable projects, and what investors should monitor; The impact of local pharmaceutical production on prices and supply chains across East Africa .

Agricultural Sector: Reducing Harvest Losses

Sub-Saharan Africa experiences up to a 37% loss in agricultural harvests annually due to inefficiencies in reaching markets. Factors contributing to these losses include inadequate transport infrastructure, limited storage options, and weak cold-chain systems, costing the agricultural economy billions of dollars.

Private sector entities are increasingly investing in logistics, warehousing, and digital solutions to address these challenges, aiming to reduce losses and enhance food security.

Banana Fibres as a Sustainable Alternative in the Central African Republic

Innovators in the Central African Republic are utilizing banana tree trunks to produce biodegradable bags, offering an environmentally friendly substitute for plastic packaging. Despite the introduction of a plastic bag ban in 2020, plastic products still dominate the market, hindering the demand for sustainable alternatives.

The main challenges include enforcement of the ban, affordability, and scaling up eco-friendly production.

Based on reporting by Africanews.