• Hikma opens $17M pharmaceutical plant in Tunisia to boost exports and supply

• Facility to produce cardiovascular, diabetes, and antibiotic treatments to global standards

• Expansion aims to reduce import reliance and strengthen regional health security

Jordanian pharmaceutical group Hikma Pharmaceuticals inaugurated its third manufacturing plant in Tunisia on Monday, November 10, with the goal of serving both African and European markets.

The new facility, representing an investment of 50 million Tunisian dinars ($17 million), will produce a wide range of medicines that meet international quality standards, including treatments for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, and antibiotics.

Located in the Sidi Thabet industrial zone in northern Tunisia, the plant is designed to reduce the country’s dependence on imported pharmaceuticals while boosting exports to regional and international markets.

“This facility is not only an expansion of our local production capacity but also a platform for exports to Europe, Africa, and the Arab world,” said Mazen Darwazah, President of Hikma Pharmaceuticals for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, during the inauguration ceremony.

Tunisian Health Minister Mustapha Ferjani said the opening marks “an important milestone toward greater health independence for Tunisia and the wider region,” describing it as “a key pillar of health security.”

Founded in Jordan in 1978, Hikma Pharmaceuticals operates across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The company has been present in Tunisia for 35 years, producing more than 77 medicines that cover a wide range of therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, dermatology, gastroenterology, and penicillin-based anti-infectives. Hikma holds a 3.3% share of Tunisia’s pharmaceutical market and exports part of its production to French-speaking West African countries.

Walid Kéfi