President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the innovative scientific and production pharmaceutical cluster "Tashkent Pharma Park," on December 18, a project aimed at transforming Uzbekistan's pharmaceutical industry. Established in line with a resolution from the Head of State on January 28, 2020, the foundation stone for the complex was laid in April of the same year.
The cluster, located on a 20-hectare site, is being developed in multiple phases. The first phase includes the construction of a technopark, which will house an administrative center, research and development (R&D) center, a pharmaceutical safety laboratory, a clinical research center, a Pharmaceutical Technical University, and a vivarium.
The administrative center, an 11-story building, has already been completed and is now home to the Pharmaceutical Industry Development Agency, along with a conference hall, coworking center, business incubator, library, and a museum dedicated to the history of the pharmaceutical industry. During his visit, President Mirziyoyev inspected the completed center and ongoing construction work for other facilities within the park.
The primary goal of the pharmaceutical cluster is to foster the growth of the domestic pharmaceutical industry by incorporating high technologies, integrating into global innovation systems, producing high-quality medicines, and training qualified professionals. For this purpose, 190 hectares of land in the Zangiota district of Tashkent region have been allocated.
Currently, 21 projects, totaling $818mn in investments, are underway in the industrial zone. The Grand Pharm Logistics Hub, a $40mn distribution center, has already begun operations, creating over 300 jobs. Partnerships with countries such as Turkey, India, China, Malaysia, the UAE, and Russia are essential to these ventures. Looking ahead, the zone plans to implement an additional 20 projects worth $620mn.
The cluster will contribute to the production of high-quality medicines and medical devices, the localization of imported products, and the creation of 8,000 new jobs. To ensure compliance with international standards, a Center of Good Practices will be established, overseeing the entire production process from manufacturing to consumer delivery.
President Mirziyoyev was also briefed on the Pharmaceutical Technical University being established within the cluster. The university aims to provide specialized education in pharmacy, biochemistry, biotechnology, and related fields. It will offer international degrees from Yonsei University in South Korea, Sunderland and De Montfort Universities in the UK, with scientific collaborations in place with prestigious institutions like Dundee, Pusan, and Purdue.
Addressing the first batch of students admitted this academic year, the president emphasized the importance of training local specialists to meet the future demands of the industry.
“We are bringing investors from developed countries. How will they evaluate Uzbekistan? By communicating with you. The wealth of our country is young people! If we do not support the best programs in pharmacy and train specialists for the future, we will pay others and become dependent,” said President Mirziyoyev. “That is why we are establishing a modern university and introducing dual education, where you will both receive education and have the opportunity to apply your knowledge in practice."
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