• Angola has begun constructing a €100 million drug plant to produce injectables and tablets.
• The facility, led by Thera, will produce up to 35 million injectables and two billion tablets a year by 2027.
• The project aims to ease import reliance and support Africa’s pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.

Angola has officially launched construction of a medication manufacturing facility to reduce its dependence on imported drugs. The plant, developed by pharmaceutical firm Thera, is located in the Luanda-Bengo Special Economic Zone. Announced on Monday, June 2, the project involves a €100 million ($113.8 million) investment and is scheduled to become operational by 2027.

The facility will have an annual capacity of 35 million injectables and two billion tablets. It is intended to serve rising demand for medical products across Africa and address Angola’s vulnerability to drug shortages, high import prices, and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

Rafael Pratale, president of the Thera Produtos Farmacêuticos consortium, said the plant will produce treatments for a wide range of priority medical conditions. These include antimalarial drugs, antiemetics, HIV treatments, painkillers, anti-rheumatic and anti-tuberculosis drugs, as well as therapies for endocrine, cardiovascular, digestive, and eating disorders.

Thera plans to work with the Regulatory Agency for Medicines and Health Technologies (Armed) to secure certifications from the World Health Organization and the European Union, allowing the company to export to regulated markets.

More than 250 direct jobs will be created, covering roles in production, quality control, maintenance, logistics, administration, security, and technical support. Another 1,000 indirect jobs are expected to follow.

Angola continues to face significant obstacles in its pharmaceutical sector, including a shortage of skilled professionals, distribution inefficiencies outside the capital, and the presence of counterfeit medicines. The country is pursuing reforms and local partnerships to address these challenges.

This plant forms part of a wider African push toward domestic pharmaceutical production. Multiple countries are investing in manufacturing capacity to lessen import dependence and build regional health industry hubs. Angola aims to be a central player in this continental strategy.