Round table on expanding Kazakh-Japanese cooperation

On February 2, a round table dedicated to the expansion of Kazakh-Japanese cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry was held online. The event was organized by the Single Distributor SK-Pharmacy with the support of the Ministry of Health and the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Japan represented by Ambassador S. Yesimbekov under the auspices of expanding investment opportunities in the pharmaceutical market of Kazakhstan.

The round table was held as part of the National Week of Kazakhstan and the virtual exhibition CAVEX 2022. The goal is to develop business and stimulate trade and investment between Japan and the countries of Central Asia.

It is worth recalling that Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted the importance of cooperation with global pharmaceutical corporations, attracting investors, ensuring the transfer of technologies and the latest developments. In this regard, the Single Distributor held a series of similar round tables with India, Italy, the Republic of Korea, the Astana Diplomatic Club, International Associations of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, the Association of Russian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Swiss Pharmaceutical Companies.

The round table was opened by the Director of the Research Institute for Economics of Russia and NIS Rotobo Vajima Miki. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Japan Yessimbekov Sabr delivered a welcoming speech.

The largest Japanese pharmaceutical companies took part in the round table: Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (73 member companies), Medical Excellence JAPAN Association (46 member companies), Cultivecs Inc (Development and manufacturing of antibody drugs), Taiko Pharmaceutical, CBC Co. , Ltd., Iskra Industry Co., PJL Inc., CBC Co., Ltd., Iskra Industry Co., Ltd., ITOCHU Corporation, JETRO, Marubeni Corporation, MUFG Bank Ltd., Sumitomo Corporation. Also CEO of PJL Inc. Yamada Noriko performed there.  The Executive Director of the ALE "Association of Manufacturers of Pharmaceutical and Medical Products of Kazakhstan PharmMedIndustry of Kazakhstan - Manakpayeva Guldaria, the management of JSC Aktyubrentgen - a major manufacturer of X-ray diagnostic devices and mobile medical complexes, also spoke from the Kazakh side. Also Business Development Director of Kazakh Pharmaceutical Company Medservice Plus LLP Saida Yerdenbekova. Representatives of Aktyubrentgen JSC Makhmutov Mars - Executive Director, Makhmutov Atomzhan - Director of the Representative Office.

The Single Distributor presented the investment opportunities of the industry and the terms of benefits, preferences for potential investors, providing analytical information on the state of the Kazakh pharmaceutical market, as well as the role of SK-Pharmacy LLP in the drug supply system.                                                                          

In addition, the current state of the Kazakhstan market of medical equipment and approaches to the localization of the production of medicines and medical equipment in Kazakhstan were considered.

The Single Distributor, on behalf of the Head of State, also initiated measures to equip healthcare organizations with medical equipment with an emphasis on obstetric and resuscitation services. It is planned to work out the issues of localization / contract manufacturing of medical equipment in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the short-term using the mechanisms of long-term contracts, off-take contracts, leasing mechanisms, and life cycle contracts.

It was emphasized that a powerful incentive for the development of domestic production is the development of interaction with the major global pharmaceutical industry from the TOP-50 BigPharma, and the involvement of domestic research institutes, scientific laboratories of large medical universities like R&D centers, as well as their deployment in free economic and industrial zones.

The Kazakh side noted the great potential for economic cooperation between the two countries, voiced the possibility of building up bilateral cooperation. The parties expressed interest in mutual cooperation, emphasizing the need to consolidate efforts in order to expand cooperation.

Reference: The Japanese pharmaceutical industry occupies a leading position in the Asian market, and the Japanese pharmaceutical market is the second largest in the world. GDP in Japan for 2020 amounted to 4.970 trillion dollars, which allowed it to take the honorable 3rd place among the most highly developed countries in the world.