King inaugurates Hikma’s new MENA headquarters

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday inaugurated Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ new Middle East and North Africa headquarters in Amman.

King Abdullah stressed the importance of the pharmaceutical sector for the national economy, noting that pharmaceutical industries are among the priority sectors of the Economic Modernisation Vision for the upcoming 10 years, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty called for supporting the growth of pharmaceutical industries, streamlining procedures related to the registration of medications, and mitigating any obstacles that may face the sector.

The King lauded Hikma Pharmaceuticals as one of the leading national companies in the pharmaceutical sector.

His Majesty was briefed by Hikma's Executive Vice Chairman and President of MENA Mazen Darwazah on the company’s future plans.

Darwazah said the company plans to establish a regional research and development hub in Salt, which will enable the company to outsource R&D capabilities to the region and the world.

The R&D hub, expected to be completed in 2024, will strengthen the company’s global position, he added, noting Hikma Pharmaceuticals operates 32 manufacturing plants and seven major R&D centres in the US, Europe and the MENA, including two in Jordan.

Darwazah said Hikma currently contributes approximately 5 per cent of Jordan’s total national exports and nearly 75 per cent of pharmaceutical exports, adding that it has a 10 per cent share of the Jordanian pharmaceutical market and a $370 million economic value flowing from it to the Jordanian economy

The executive vice chairman said that in 2021, Hikma exported $392 million worth of pharmaceutical products from Jordan to global markets, expecting exports to grow in 2022 to surpass $465 million.

Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh, Royal Hashemite Court Chief Yousef Issawi, Health Minister Feras Al Hawari, and Hikma Pharmaceuticals Executive Chairman and CEO Said Darwazah attended the visit.