KAZAKHSTAN-IRANIAN COOPERATION IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY

Today, at the site of the Single Distributor, a meeting was held between the Chairman of the Board, Erkhat Iskaliyev, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ali Akbar Djoukar.

During the meeting, the parties discussed issues of bilateral cooperation in the field of medical and pharmaceutical industries, including issues of attracting investments, as well as other issues of mutual interest.

Iran is one of the key partners of Kazakhstan in the Persian Gulf. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Islamic Republic of Iran were established back in 1992.

Economic cooperation takes place in different priority areas. Jowkar Ali Akbar noted that the visits of the Head of State to Iran in 2022 and the Prime Minister in 2023 gave a significant impetus to the development of bilateral relations.

The President of the country has repeatedly stressed the importance of intensifying foreign trade activities and promoting Kazakh products to foreign markets, emphasizing the need to regulate the export of basic food products to ensure the domestic market. He noted that it is necessary to continue work on diversifying the economy, expanding the range of manufactured goods and the geography of exports.

According to the Government, in 2022, trade between the countries increased by almost 20%, amounting to $528 million. According to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan is ready to increase exports of 75 commodity items in the amount of about $250 million.

The key area of partnership discussed by the parties on the agenda was the pharmaceutical industry. The foreign guest was told about the single distribution system, the transition to a centralized purchase of medical equipment and the localization of production as part of a 5-year equipment program.

The Chairman of the Board presented the industry's investment opportunities and the conditions for state benefits and preferences, the high potential of the Kazakh pharmaceutical market and its development prospects. It should be noted that the measure of support in the pharmaceutical industry by the Single Distributor is provided in the form of long-term contracts.

It was especially emphasized that a huge role in the development of domestic production is played by the localization of production at domestic production sites of original drugs with high added value, the creation of R&D centers and the implementation of a cluster initiative.

The Iranian side, in turn, expressed interest in creating production sites for the production of medicines in our country. It should be noted that pharmaceutical companies in Iran are among the most developed in the Middle East and North Africa region with the potential of their own developments.

In addition, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Kazakhstan was presented with a guide for potential investors - Investment Guide Book, which is aimed at providing support to investors at all stages of the investment project.

As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed on the need for local study of the issues of transferring Iranian production technologies to the sites of Kazakh pharmaceutical manufacturers, their deep localization on the territory of the republic, as well as cooperation in the development of new drugs and the development of R&D centers.

In conclusion, the parties voiced the possibilities of increasing bilateral cooperation in the field of pharmaceutical production and outlined the prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation between Iran and Kazakhstan as a whole.