The European Union has pledged $44.4 million to boost Rwanda’s pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
The funding was announced during the East Africa Pharma and Biotech conference held in Kigali.
The initiative aims to enhance Rwanda’s capacity to produce safe, effective, and affordable health products locally.
New projects will focus on pharmaceutical research, entrepreneurship, skills development, and strengthening supply chains and regulatory frameworks.
The funding follows a commitment made last year by EU President Ursula von der Leyen in discussions with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.
According to Belen Calvo Uyarra, EU Ambassador to Rwanda, the projects will help Rwanda become a regional hub for pharmaceutical production.
Rwanda’s Minister of State for Health, Yvan Butera, expressed the government’s commitment to building a robust pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.
This initiative is part of the EU’s broader Team Europe Initiative aimed at improving access to vaccines and medicines in Africa.
The projects will be implemented in collaboration with EU member states and Rwandan authorities.
