Iraq begins construction of major pharmaceutical hub in southern Baghdad

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Sunday launched the construction of the Health City for Pharmaceutical Industries in southern Baghdad, a 120,000-square-meter complex aimed at localizing pharmaceutical production and attracting international partners.

Speaking at the launch, Al-Sudani said the initiative marks “a major step reflecting the government’s ambition to advance and localize pharmaceutical manufacturing in Iraq.” The project includes five pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, with total investments exceeding $500 million, as well as research centers, warehouses, and solar-powered energy stations.

“Pharmaceutical security is no less important than food and military security,” Al-Sudani said, emphasizing the strategic role of the health sector.

He noted that the project is designed to provide jobs and meet international pharmaceutical standards, stating, “The government advances ten steps for every single step taken by the private sector toward investment in Iraq.”

Statement from Al-Sudani’s media office:

Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani launched today the construction of the Health City for Pharmaceutical Industries project in southern Baghdad, spanning an area of 120,000 square meters, in the presence of the Minister of Health and representatives of international companies participating in the city’s development.

The Prime Minister also launched the construction of five pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, with a total estimated investment exceeding 500 million USD. These include:

* A biosimilar medicines facility in partnership with Hetero.
* A plasma derivatives production plant in partnership with Accord Healthcare (UK) and Prothya Biosolutions (Netherlands).
* A peritoneal dialysis solutions facility established in collaboration with Vantive (USA).
* A pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in cooperation with leading global companies.
* A factory for medical textiles and disposable medical supplies.

The project also includes supporting facilities such as a pharmaceutical research and development center in partnership with Sartorius (Germany), as well as refrigerated and sterile medical warehouses, and solar-powered electricity generation stations.

From the site of the Health City for Pharmaceutical Industries, Prime Minister Al-Sudani inaugurated via videoconference three peritoneal dialysis centers in Baghdad, Nineveh, and Erbil.

In the same context, the Prime Minister oversaw the signing ceremony of three memorandums of principles with leading global pharmaceutical technology companies to produce biosimilar medicines for cancer and autoimmune diseases, plasma-derived therapies, and establish the pharmaceutical research and development center.

The first agreement was signed between the Ministry of Health, the private sector, and Accord UK, while the other two were signed between the Health City investor company and both Abbott USA and Sartorius Germany.

Prime Minister Al-Sudani commended the collective efforts made to launch the implementation of the Health City for Pharmaceutical Industries, describing it as a major step reflecting the government’s ambition to advance and localize pharmaceutical manufacturing in Iraq.

It is noteworthy that the Health City for Pharmaceutical Industries is one of the largest strategic projects in the pharmaceutical sector in Iraq, designed to attract leading international companies, transfer advanced pharmaceutical technologies, and produce life-saving and specialized medicines for cancer, immune, and chronic diseases.

The following are the key highlights of Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s remarks during the launch ceremony:

🔷 The government has made several key decisions to support the Ministry of Health and the private sector in implementing this project.
🔷 Agreements have been signed with leading global companies to produce high-quality, life-saving medicines in line with international standards and market needs.
🔷 Pharmaceutical security is no less important than food and military security.
🔷 We are working to ensure that the health sector provides job opportunities for youth across various specializations.
🔷 The government continues to support and empower the private sector, while the Ministry of Health proceeds with implementing diverse healthcare projects.
🔷 The government advances ten steps for every single step taken by the private sector toward investment in Iraq.