THE European Union has pledged €44 million to support the local manufacturing of pharmaceutical and biotech products in Rwanda, aiming to improve equitable access to essential healthcare. Announced during the East Africa Pharma and Biotech conference in Kigali, the funding will focus on pharmaceutical research, skills development, and strengthening supply chains.
Belen Calvo Uyarra, the EU ambassador to Rwanda, noted: ‘These projects will support Rwanda in its vision of becoming a regional hub for the pharmaceutical industry.’
Rwanda’s Minister of State for Health, Yvan Butera, emphasised the significance of this funding, saying: ‘This signals our commitment to addressing global health imbalances and building local manufacturing capacity to meet health demands across Africa.’
The €40 million pledge is part of the broader Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines, and Health Technologies (MAV+) in Africa. The collaboration between EU member states and the Rwandan government will ensure the efficient implementation of these projects, positioning Rwanda as a leader in Africa’s growing pharmaceutical sector.
In addition to this financial boost, Butera stated, ‘The development of a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub will facilitate access to medical products within Rwanda and across Africa, contributing to the continent’s long-term health security.’
