Pharmaceutical Sector Meets at Workshop

Pharmaceutical Sector Future Research Workshop held by Istanbul Chemical Exporters Association (İKMİB) on 8-9 January in Sapanca. The pharmaceutical sector gathered at the Pharmaceutical Sector Future Research Workshop. At the workshop organized by İKMİB on 8-9 January in Sapanca, the current state and future of the pharmaceutical sector were discussed.

Pharmaceutical Sector Future Research Workshop Held by İKMİB

The fourth workshop organized by İKMİB for subsectors took place. The Pharmaceutical Sector Future Research Workshop was held on 8-9 January in Sapanca. The workshop lasted two days and brought together all stakeholders directing the pharmaceutical sector. The workshop evaluated the pharmaceutical sector and discussed important issues regarding its future. The Pharmaceutical Sector Future Research Workshop was attended by İKMİB Board of Directors Chairman Adil Pelister, İKMİB Board Member Halit Süha Taşpolatoğlu, İKMİB Board Treasurer Tayfun Demir, İKMİB Board Alternate Member Ahmet Fethi Polat, İKMİB Pharmaceutical Sector Committee Chairman and TİM Delegate Orhan Mutlu Topal, and İKMİB Board Advisor Mehmet Ahmet Ünlü, as well as leading sector companies, representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industry and Technology, Ministry of Treasury and Finance, Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK), association presidents and representatives, and academics from universities.

Steps to Carry Pharmaceutical Sector into the Future Decided

Round-table meetings at the workshop conducted broad-perspective evaluations covering access to financing through logistics to new international regulations and high-value-added products, while collaborative efforts resulted in solution proposals and decisions on strategic steps to be taken in the short and medium term to advance the pharmaceutical sector into the future.

Pharmaceutical Product Group Exports Increased by 19.4 Percent Year-on-Year

İKMİB Board of Directors Chairman Adil Pelister made a presentation at the Pharmaceutical Sector Future Research Workshop. Pelister shared detailed information on İKMİB activities and noted that pharmaceutical product group exports have increased from USD 863 million to USD 1.425 billion over the past five years. Pelister stated: "Our pharmaceutical product group exports increased by 19.4 percent compared to 2020. In 2021, we exported USD 1.4 billion while our imports reached USD 6.8 billion. In 2021, the top five countries to which we exported were Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan, Iraq, Iran, Thrace Free Zone, and Germany, respectively. Exports to these five countries account for 30.9 percent of the sector's total exports. Our exports to Azerbaijan-Nakhchivan increased by 145.75 percent, while exports to Iran increased by 153.43 percent. We forecast that our export growth momentum will continue this year."

Chemical Technology Center Preparations Continuing at Full Pace

Pelister also shared information on the latest status of the Chemical Technology Center (KTM), İKMİB's most important project. Pelister stated: "As part of our Chemical Technology Center installation work, we have held various meetings to date and visited important universities and organizations. We are establishing a Chemical Technology Center where our companies in the chemical sector can obtain certifications, where there are accredited testing and laboratories, startup areas, where research conferences can be held, and which also has a digital library. With the aim of carrying out the activities of the KTM, whose feasibility studies we continue, we established our company with the approval of our Ministry of Commerce under the name 'Chemical Research Technology and Innovation Center (KATİM) Inc.' Our Chemical Technology Center, which will initially begin serving our paints, plastics and plastic products, cosmetics, and rubber sectors, is being prepared for launch by the end of this year."