President Aliyev launches facility to strengthen local pharmaceutical industry photo

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the official inauguration of a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility operated by Scandens Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, located in the Hokmali settlement of Absheron district.

During the visit, Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and Director General Kamran Hasanov provided President Aliyev with a detailed briefing on the enterprise, according to domestic media reports.

Constructed in accordance with international standards, the facility is equipped with advanced machinery imported from Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. It is designed to produce approximately 800 million tablets and capsules annually across several therapeutic areas, including antibiotics, diabetology, hepatology, cardiology, andrology, allergology, and gastroenterology. Initially, production will serve the domestic market, with future plans for export expansion. The facility has generated 120 new employment opportunities.

The project represents a private investment totaling 74 million manats ($43.5 million). Through an investment promotion document issued by the Ministry of Economy, the company received concessions amounting to 6.5 million manats ($3.8 million) for imported equipment.

The facility’s opening marks a significant milestone for Azerbaijan’s pharmaceutical sector, enabling all stages of medicine production—from raw materials to finished products—to be carried out domestically. It is expected to reinforce local pharmaceutical manufacturing, increase Azerbaijan’s export potential, and produce competitive medicines that adhere to both national and international quality standards.

Beyond production, the facility will serve as a training hub for pharmaceutical specialists. A quadrilateral memorandum signed between Scandens Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Azerbaijan Medical University, Hungary’s University of Pécs, and Pannon Pharma will facilitate short- and long-term training and internship programs for professionals in pharmaceutical and related fields.

President Aliyev formally inaugurated the facility during the ceremony.

The plant also incorporates sustainability measures: 710 solar panels, with a total capacity of 450 kW/h, have been installed on the roof, enabling the facility to meet roughly 40 percent of its energy needs through renewable sources.

By Tamilla Hasanova