The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is backing pharmaceutical manufacturing in Uzbekistan. The EBRD is providing a €20 million loan to Uzbek-British pharmaceutical manufacturer Samarkand England Eco-Medical (SEEM) and its affiliated company Bayan Medical, the bank’s press service announced.
The companies specialize in the production of intravenous solutions, generic drugs, and specialized medicines in tablet and capsule form. With the borrowed funds, SEEM will acquire production lines, including for intravenous solutions and antibiotics in glass ampoules, syrups and suspensions, nasal sprays, suppositories, and ointments. In addition, the financing will enable the modernization of Bayan Medical’s facilities, specifically through the purchase of an ampoule production line.
The project is expected to help increase the share of domestically produced medicines; currently, about 75% of medical products in Uzbekistan are imported. As part of the project’s social component, Bayan Medical will introduce an internship program for university graduates, organize training for employees, and create additional employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The EBRR has already invested around $6.9 billion (€5.8 billion) in Uzbekistan across 205 projects, with a significant portion of these funds directed toward supporting the private sector. For the past six years, the country has remained the bank’s largest recipient of financing in Central Asia.