Par Hajar Ben Hosain
The 24ᵉ edition of the International Pharmaceutical Forum (FPI) is held in Tunis on May 1 and 2, 2025. This is a major event bringing together the main players in the pharmaceutical industry in Africa, with a particularly noted Moroccan participation. The theme chosen for this edition is “the role of artificial intelligence in the pharmaceutical industry”.
In a press release, the National Council of the Order of Tunisian pharmacists announced that this edition of the international pharmaceutical forum will bring together more than 30 countries, with the participation of 50 experts and specialists, 70 exhibitors, including 4 Moroccan pharmaceutical laboratories, in addition to a pavilion dedicated to the Moroccan Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry and Innovation (IMF), and almost 3,000
The IMFIIP indicated that Morocco’s participation in this international forum is part of an opening dynamic on external markets, in partnership with the Moroccan Investment and Exports Development Agency (AMDIE). It also pointed out that this orientation constitutes a strategic necessity for the national pharmaceutical sector, allowing both to reduce production costs and to improve overall performance, in a context where the internal market remains relatively limited.
During this two -day forum, Moroccan experts take part in scientific seminars and debates, through interventions on the issues related to the development of generative artificial intelligence, the role of national regulation agencies in Africa, the contribution of AI in the personalization of care, as well as its integration into pharmaceutical university training.
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On the other hand, during an intervention before the Commission of Productive Sectors in the House of Representatives last February, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Mr. Ryad Mezzour, stressed that, despite the vitality of the Moroccan pharmaceutical market, estimated at 22 billion dirhams per year, the sector is confronted with important challenges, including a worrying shortage of drugs, impacting the diversity and availability of essential products.
In terms of turnover, Morocco ranks second in Africa, behind South Africa, and occupies fifth place in the Middle East region and North Africa (MENA). The country has an additional production potential, likely to be oriented towards African markets, thus entering into the realization of the royal vision aimed at strengthening South-South cooperation.
According to a study by Henri-Louis Vedie, entitled “Is the Moroccan industrial pharmaceutical sector ready to take up the challenge of the kingdom’s health sovereignty? », The national pharmaceutical ecosystem in 2024 is distinguished by its dynamism and its strong development potential, based on a double growth engine: internal and external.
The report also stresses that Morocco has asserted itself as a center of excellence in the production of generic drugs at a lower cost, thus generating substantial savings. These are considered essential to maintain the financial balance of health insurance, while contributing to the improvement of the country’s trade balance.
