Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 18 December, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the innovative scientific and production pharmaceutical cluster Tashkent Pharma Park, one of the key projects for the development of Uzbekistan's pharmaceutical industry.

The complex was established in accordance with the presidential decree of 28 January 2020, and the first stone of the project was laid on 17 April 2020. The first phase involves the construction of a technopark on an area of approximately 20 hectares, which includes an administrative center, a research and development (R&D) center, a pharmaceutical product safety control laboratory, a clinical research center, the Pharmaceutical Technical University, and a vivarium.

Currently, the administrative center has been completed, housed in an 11-story building. It already accommodates the Pharmaceutical Industry Development Agency, a conference hall, a coworking center, a business incubator, an industry history museum, and a library. The President personally familiarized himself with the activities of the agency and inspected the progress of the construction of the remaining facilities.

The main objectives of the pharmaceutical cluster include the development of the national pharmaceutical industry by implementing advanced technologies, integrating into international innovation systems, organizing the production of high-quality medicines, medical devices, and equipment, as well as training skilled professionals. To achieve these goals, a land plot of 190 hectares has been allocated in the Zangiata district of Tashkent region.

The industrial zone of the cluster is planned to implement 21 projects with a total value of $818 million. The first facility put into operation was the Grand Pharm Logistics Hub distribution center, which cost $40 million to build and created 300 jobs. Companies from Turkey, India, China, Malaysia, the UAE, and Russia are involved in the implementation of manufacturing projects.

The President met with the initiators of the projects and emphasized the importance of consistently attracting and supporting investments. In the future, 20 more projects worth $620 million are planned to be implemented in the cluster. As a result, the cluster will produce high-quality medicines and medical products, create localized products, and provide approximately 8,000 jobs. The quality control of products at all stages, from production to delivery, will be ensured by the Good Manufacturing Practices (GxP) Center.

The President was also briefed on the activities of the Pharmaceutical Technical University, which will become an important part of the cluster. The university plans to establish a pharmacopoeia center, a modern library, a sports complex, and housing for teachers and foreign specialists. The university will train highly qualified professionals in fields such as industrial pharmacy, biomedicine, biochemistry, biotechnology, biopharmaceutics, and pharmaceutical chemistry. To this end, the education will be based on international programs, utilizing modern laboratories in microbiology, biotechnology, cell biology, pharmacology, and analytical chemistry.

The university has already accepted its first students. The President conversed with them, emphasizing the importance of their contribution to the development of the country's pharmaceutical industry.

"Investors from developed countries evaluate Uzbekistan through you, the youth. Our main wealth is you! We need to use advanced programs and train our specialists so that we are not dependent on foreign personnel. This is why we are creating a new university and implementing dual education. Here, you will not only acquire theoretical knowledge but also have the opportunity to apply it in practice," Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted.

Graduates of the university will receive international diplomas from universities such as Yonsei (South Korea), Sunderland, and De Montfort (UK). The university also collaborates with research centers in Dundee, Busan, and Purdue.