Afghanistan and Bangladesh Discuss Strengthening Cooperation in Pharmaceutical Production, Trade, and Investment

During his official visit to Bangladesh, Dr. Naeemullah Ayoubi, Director of Drugs and Health Products Regulatory Authority of the Ministry of Public Health of IEA, met with Dr. Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Secretary General of the Pharmaceutical Industry Association, and his delegation.

At the meeting, attended by other members of the Afghan delegation, the two sides discussed pharmaceutical production, regulation, trade, and investment, stressing that trade should be conducted legally and transparently and that the registration and evaluation of pharmaceutical products be carried out and expedited in line with required standards.

Officials of Bangladeshi pharmaceutical manufacturing companies were encouraged to invest in pharmaceutical production in Afghanistan, either independently or in partnership with Afghan investors, and discussions were held on exporting high-quality medicines from Bangladesh to Afghanistan.

The Afghan delegation proposed that medicine prices on export labels be written in Afghanis for the benefit of both exporters and the public, and stressed that medicines close to or past their expiration dates should not be exported to Afghanistan.

Bangladesh Pharmaceutical Industry Association officials pledged to export quality medicines to Afghanistan at reasonable prices and urged starting cargo flights between Kabul and Dhaka to speed up transport of medicines and goods.

At the end of the meeting, both sides emphasized enhancing joint cooperation in the health sector, ensuring the quality of medicines, and creating investment opportunities, describing the meeting as important for strengthening bilateral relations.