Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Qabil on Sunday asserted 
that the ministry was keen on upgrading the pharmaceuticals industry to meet the needs of local market at affordable prices.

This came during the minister's meeting with a number of representatives of American pharmaceutical companies operating in Egypt.

The minister reviewed the main problems facing the pharmaceutical industry and the importance of finding urgent solutions that take into consideration the potentials of the Egyptian citizens.

He also said the Trade Ministry is currently coordinating with the Ministry of Health and producing companies to work out solutions for all problems relevant to the medicine industry in Egypt especially after the liberalization of dollar exchange rate against the Egyptian pound.

The government is keen on outlining crystal clear strategies concerning the medicine production, availability as well as pricing, the minister added. He also discussed the impact of liberalization measures on the production cost and rates and the ability of such companies to provide its products at affordable prices to meet the citizens' needs. 

He said outlining such strategies would protect the current pharmaceutical entities and would lure more international companies to invest in the Egyptian market