TASHKENT (TCA) — Seven new free economic zones in Uzbekistan will specialize in growing medicinal plant feedstock for the country’s pharmaceutical industry, the Jahon information agency reported.
In the near future, Uzbekistan will create Nukus-Pharm, Zomin-Pharm, Kosonsoy-Pharm, Syrdaryo-Pharm, Boysun-Pharm, Bustonlik-Pharm and Parkent-Pharm zones.
Experts see the establishment of these zones as an expected step to catalyze the stagnant Uzbek pharmaceutical industry. Today, the country imports 6,300 names of various medicines, while producing about 2,000 names. Experts say the strong dependence on foreign feedstock and raw materials is the main factor hindering the pharmaceutical industry growth.
The country’s capacity for growing medicinal plants is not being fully utilized. Only 71 out of 350 species are currently cultivated on industrial plantations. As a result, extremely low harvest volumes do not allow for a stable production of marketable drugs.
A new decree of the head of state is called to change the situation. The zones will be created in ecologically clean regions of Karakalpakstan, Jizzakh, Namangan, Syrdarya, Surkhandarya and Tashkent regions. Core government agencies will soon develop a targeted program on the establishment of industrial plantations, and a list of specific types of medicinal plants recommended for cultivation, followed by the organization of enhanced processing and production of medicines and biologically active additives.
All enterprises on the territory of the zones will be released from various taxes, depending on the amount of investment. They will also be granted with certain customs preferences.
The government will undertake all the expenses to connect each production site in the zones to external roads, engineering and communication infrastructure.
There are currently 146 pharmaceutical companies in Uzbekistan. In 2016, the share of domestic medicines in the total volume of products on the country’s pharmaceutical market was 55%.
