Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, has called on Chinese pharmaceutical firm Hunan ER-Kang to scale up the production of human medicines at its facility in Dar es Salaam, in a bid to strengthen the country’s healthcare sector and reduce reliance on imports.
Speaking during a visit to the company’s headquarters in Changsha, China, Minister Kombo met with senior executives to discuss plans to expand the plant's capacity and enhance pharmaceutical manufacturing in Tanzania.
Highlighting the Tanzanian government’s commitment to improving access to essential medicines, Kombo said increased local production is critical to meeting national health priorities.“This is a timely opportunity for ER-Kang to invest further in Tanzania,” Kombo said.
“Expanding production will not only reduce the financial burden of importing medicines, but also position Tanzania as a key pharmaceutical supplier within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).”he added
Tanzania recently secured a regional contract to supply medicines to 16 SADC member states through its Medical Stores Department (MSD) a milestone the minister described as a strategic move to boost the country's industrial and export capacity.
He also encouraged the company to take advantage of the longstanding diplomatic and trade relations between Tanzania and China to expand its international footprint.
Minister Kombo assured ER-Kang of continued government support, emphasizing that the Ministry would work closely with relevant agencies to facilitate the company's investment and operations.
ER-Kang Chairman Fangwen Shuan welcomed the minister’s remarks and confirmed the company’s commitment to expanding its Tanzanian operations.
He also revealed plans to diversify investments into steel production and agricultural value addition, particularly in cashews, groundnuts, and sesame.
ER-Kang is one of several Chinese companies exploring opportunities in Africa’s growing pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors, amid increasing demand for locally-produced medical supplies across the continent.