Médéa – Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production, Ali Aoun, emphasized the significant importance of the “Phoenix Biotech” project, which aims to produce raw materials for pharmaceuticals from natural plant extracts, in boosting the national economy by opening new avenues for developing date cultivation.
The minister, speaking on the sidelines of the “Phoenix Biotech” project presentation in the presence of the General Manager of the Saidal Group and researchers from the National Institute for Comprehensive Strategic Studies overseeing the program, stated, “Promoting national date palm and date production in the transformation industry will contribute to the overall development of the industry, particularly the pharmaceutical sector, requiring the mobilization of all capacities to leverage this field’s potential.”
Aoun highlighted that Algeria’s date production, spread over 300,000 hectares, yields 10 million tons annually, which can enhance various industrial sectors and reduce import costs for many products within the food and pharmaceutical industries.
The “Phoenix Biotech” project falls under the program to utilize dates to manufacture a variety of products used in different fields, such as baker’s yeast, ethanol, and date syrup, obtained through special techniques, as explained by the project leader, Ibrahim Zeitouni.
In this regard, a partnership agreement was signed between the Saidal Group and the holding company “Agrodiv” to produce fermentation materials, including primary materials like bioethanol and specialized sugars such as glucose, fructose, and citrus.
During the visit, the minister listened to a detailed presentation on the factory specializing in producing plant-based raw materials from date derivatives. The project’s cost is estimated at $10 million, focusing on converting raw plant materials into pharmaceutical components.
This project is one of the strategic initiatives for the Saidal Group, enhancing its position in the pharmaceutical market while representing a significant challenge in achieving self-sufficiency and health security.
In his speech, the minister also highlighted the significant progress in drug production and the revival of the raw materials production project, emphasizing its importance. He inspected the antibiotic production unit of the Saidal Group, which specializes in producing penicillin antibiotics (injections, tablets, ointments, and liquids) with an annual production capacity of 50.82 million units.
Aoun called for the expedited completion of the raw materials production unit to start production, noting that the Saidal Group has seen “remarkable improvement in national pharmaceutical industries,” emphasizing the “necessity to continue covering the national market with local production, currently at 70%,” describing it as a “positive indicator.”
He added that the raw materials production unit, neglected for years, will soon produce its first batch to boost national pharmaceutical capabilities, reducing import costs and reflecting the state’s commitment to developing national industry across all fields.
The minister also mentioned the upcoming launch of factories for producing cancer drugs, a priority for President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
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