Once upon a time, a Hubei pharmaceutical company went to Africa
2023-03-07 19:03:05
By Ma Xiaofan, Zeng lei, Yichang International Communication Studio
BEIJING, March 4th. When Gu Xueming, a member of the CPPCC, China’s top political advisory body, talked to reporters covering its annual gathering, he recounted the story of a Hubei pharmaceutical company in Africa to illustrate the achievements of China’s Belt and Road Initiative launched 10 years ago.
A Chinese company has built West Africa’s first modern medicine production plant, said Gu. “This has allowed Mali not only put an end to its dependence on drug imports, but also significantly lowered the market price of drugs, while driving the development of upstream and downstream industries," said Gu, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) currently in session in the nation’s capital.
Gu also heads up a thinktank belonging to China’s Ministry of Commerce.
Humanwell Healthcare was set up in 1993 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange four years later. The state-owned company built the new plant in Bamako, the capital of Mali, with a first phase investment of US$35 million. Construction started in 2014, and the company began operations in January 2015.
BEIJING, March 4th. When Gu Xueming, a member of the CPPCC, China’s top political advisory body, talked to reporters covering its annual gathering, he recounted the story of a Hubei pharmaceutical company in Africa to illustrate the achievements of China’s Belt and Road Initiative launched 10 years ago.
A Chinese company has built West Africa’s first modern medicine production plant, said Gu. “This has allowed Mali not only put an end to its dependence on drug imports, but also significantly lowered the market price of drugs, while driving the development of upstream and downstream industries," said Gu, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) currently in session in the nation’s capital.
Gu also heads up a thinktank belonging to China’s Ministry of Commerce.
Humanwell Healthcare was set up in 1993 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange four years later. The state-owned company built the new plant in Bamako, the capital of Mali, with a first phase investment of US$35 million. Construction started in 2014, and the company began operations in January 2015.
Covering an area of 7.33 hectares, the plant mainly produces syrups, suspension medicines, and large volume injections. With an annual output of 15 million oral liquid preparations, 20 million large-capacity injections and 400 million tablets and capsules, it is driving the development of local support companies.
The Mali plant now employs more than 250 people, more than double the number when it was founded. 95 percent of the employees are locals. Three groups of employees have made study visits to Humanwell Healthcare Group's branches in Wuhan and Yichang.
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the plant provided large quantities of basic medicines for the West Africa region. Working with the Mali Ministry of Health, the company has also built an anti-malaria center where local patients are treated free of charge.
After Gu’s speech, Humanwell chairman Li Jie said that the company will do more market research in Africa, produce more and better medicine, meet local people’s needs for health, and contribute to African people’s well-being.
Local employees working at Mali pharmaceutical plant
anti-epidemic materials donated by Humanwell Healthcare arrived in Mali
