The Anambra State Government, under the leadership of Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo recently invited potential and ready investors to express their interest in the Anambra Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Park, Ogboji.
The Anambra Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Park is the vision of the Governor Soludo to create medium and high-tech industrial parks in Anambra State. It is a compact modern-day pharmaceutical industrial estate that will house pharmaceutical companies of varying capacities, service providers and companies providing support services to share workstations and infrastructure.
‘’We will actively seek out innovative companies to make our industrial parks their own. Anambra will assist in bringing down the cost of doing business and immeasurably improve their ease of doing business thereby making them competitive,’’Soludo said.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted Africa’s dependence on the West for medicines and healthcare commodities, as medicine supply chains were disrupted, and essential medicines and vaccines were not promptly available for the people who needed them most.
According to a statement, there is no better time to invest in the Anambra Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Park than now. The call for Expression of Interest (EOI) is targeted at vendors and investors with capacity in areas such as road construction and installation of drainage systems; development and installation of water supply systems; power supply and clean energy systems; installation of waste and effluent treatment systems and facilities; IT infrastructure and communication systems; residential, office, and conference centres; schools, shopping malls; medical and hospital facilities; and recreational and sports facilities.
Speaking on the benefits of the park, the Commissioner for Health, Anambra State, Dr Afam Obidike, said: ‘’The mandate is to make Anambra the Pharmaceutical Headquarters of Africa by developing a pharmaceutical ecosystem that is not only economically viable and sustainable, but also investor- friendly and attractive. Approval process to elevate the status of the Pharma Park to Economic Processing Zone (EPZ) with all the accruing benefits is at an advanced stage.
Not only that, but Anambra State has also completed the concept stage for another Airport within five kilometres to the Pharma Park. The results: Robust economy, nationwide drug security, jobs, jobs, and jobs.’’
Furthermore, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Medicals and Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Godwin Nnadozie, said the park will provide a prime location for pharmaceutical companies to establish their operations and capitalize on the African pharmaceutical value chain, thanks to its strategic location and dependable amenities.
Bloom Public Health is the technical consultant to the government of Anambra State on this landmark project. The CEO of Bloom Public Health, Prof Chimezie Anyakora, is absolutely thrilled about this project, as it will address the issue of medicine security and anticipate an even accelerated development of the park as works begin in earnest.
