Prime Minister Inspects NERHADO International Pharmaceuticals Factory in October

Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Egypt’s Prime Minister, visited the NERHADO International Pharmaceuticals and Nutritional Supplements Factory in October.

He was accompanied by Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Health and Population; Dr. Ali Al-Ghamrawy, Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority; Dr. Ahmed El Ansary, Governor of Giza; and several company officials.

During the visit, the Prime Minister emphasized that these ongoing visits to industrial facilities in the pharmaceutical sector aim to support its growth as a strategic priority for the Egyptian government. He highlighted the sector’s crucial role in providing local pharmaceutical products and expanding export opportunities.

The Minister of Health noted that Egypt’s pharmaceutical industry is experiencing significant growth and continuous development in production capacities, technology, product diversity, and export potential. He attributed these positive trends to the government’s commitment to providing all necessary resources for this vital sector’s growth.

The Head of the Egyptian Drug Authority confirmed that efforts are ongoing to attract major global companies and enhance strategic partnerships to increase investments and support national plans for localizing pharmaceutical manufacturing in Egypt, thereby providing citizens with the latest therapeutic products.

Dr. Mohamed Shalaby, CEO of NERHADO, presented an overview of the company, which was established in 1996. The company benefits from expertise gained from various global pharmaceutical firms, contributing to a diverse skill set and integrated experience that positions it as a distinguished player in the industry. NERHADO’s investments amount to 2 billion Egyptian pounds and employ 1,170 staff members.

Prime Minister Madbouly toured the production line at the factory with explanations from Hossam Mahmoud, Vice President of NERHADO. The production area spans approximately 3,270 square meters across two phases, with an annual output capacity of 600 million capsules and 840 million fast-dissolving films. The local component percentage stands at 60%, reflecting the company’s commitment to enhancing local manufacturing capabilities. The laboratories cover an area of 420 square meters, while storage capacity reaches 2,600 pallets, making it one of the largest production facilities in the Middle East with diverse product offerings.

The Vice President also highlighted that NERHADO has introduced an innovative dosage form—the fast-dissolving films—into both the Egyptian and Middle Eastern markets since its development began in 2014. This product is characterized by ease of use, rapid effect, and high therapeutic efficacy. The company is committed to developing a wide range of medications addressing critical therapeutic areas including cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, diabetes, women’s health issues, pediatric diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, oncology, and infertility.

Dr. Shalaby further stated that NERHADO currently exports around 112 pharmaceutical products to approximately 15 countries worldwide with substantial revenue from exports and increasing sales volume. The company ranks prominently within Egypt’s pharmaceutical market among over 1,400 companies and aims to be among the top five by 2028.

The CEO also discussed future expansions planned for phase three with investments totaling around 1.5 billion Egyptian pounds. This phase will add approximately 2,100 square meters to the facility along with a monthly production capacity increase of about 70 million fast-dissolving films while creating an additional 1,000 job opportunities.

Nerhado has also made significant contributions in corporate social responsibility by emphasizing education and training as vital for improving living conditions and achieving economic growth within communities. The company undertakes various initiatives aimed at developing individual skills aligned with labor market demands while focusing particularly on training youth for leadership roles to build a competent future workforce.

Furthermore, it was noted that NERHADO has established cooperation protocols with twelve public and private universities for collaboration on research and development as well as training initiatives. The company has organized blood donation campaigns in partnership with the Ministry of Health benefiting over two thousand individuals and participated in free medical convoys organized with the Ministry of Youth and Sports reaching more than three thousand beneficiaries. Additionally, NERHADO provides summer training opportunities in pharmaceuticals for pharmacy students with over five thousand students enrolled over four years.