Twelve facilities linked to the pharmaceutical industry are currently under construction in the Special Economic Zone (ZEE), with investments ranging between 350 and 400 million US dollars. These projects are part of a broader group of 99 factories currently being developed.
According to Manuel Pedro, President of the ZEE Management Company, the industrial units will focus on the production of medicines and other hospital supplies, such as saline solutions, syringes, and medical gases, and are expected to begin production in the first quarter of 2026.
The new factories are set to triple the number of jobs, which currently stands at around 19,000, creating significant opportunities for young people in particular.
Manuel Pedro highlighted the strong interest from investors in setting up pharmaceutical industries in the ZEE, with the goal of reducing external dependence.
“Our dream is to have our own pharmaceutical industry, and we’re already making positive progress with the construction and assembly of factories within the Special Economic Zone,” he said, emphasizing that the ZEE has now become the hub of the national pharmaceutical sector, promoting domestic production and diversification of hospital-related products.
The operational status of privatized factories under the Privatization Program (PROPRIV) and located within the ZEE is described as satisfactory. Some have already begun operating, while others are finalizing their investment plans.
Pedro added that while the privatization process continues, there is an ongoing effort to ensure that all currently inactive companies resume operations by next year.
“Most of them were sold under rehabilitation terms and have concrete projects in place to join the group of productive industries contributing to our economy,” he concluded.
Source: Líder Magazine
