Iran To Build Pharmacy Plant In Oman
ran and Oman have agreed to boost mutual cooperation in the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals.
The two sides have agreed to jointly invest for building a pharmaceutical factory in Oman, Iran's health minister Seyed Hassan Hashemi said, Iranian IRIB news agency reported on April 24.
Hashemi made the remarks on the sidelines of a meeting with his Omani counterpart Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Obeid Saeedi in Tehran on April 23.
The Iranian minister went on to say that Oman's market is an opportunity for Iranian investors, adding that Iran can produce medicines in Oman and export them from there to Gulf states.
He also remarked that Iran will encourage its private sector on construction of a hospital in Oman.
Oman Health Minister arrived in Tehran on April 23 at the invitation of his Iranian counterpart.
The Omani delegation met with Iran's first vice-President, Eshaq Jahangiri and Parliament Speaker, Ali Larijani.
During his 3-day visit, the Omani minister will visit scientific centers and universities.
Jahangiri in his meeting with Omani health minister said that Iran has made remarkable progress in medical sciences and is ready to transfer its experience in the fields of hygiene and medical treatment to Oman.
Iranian officials repeatedly claim that the country has taken wide strides in science and technology, particularly in medical and medicinal fields, in recent years, however the country suffers from shortages of some vital medicine.
International sanctions against Iran have hindered trade of medicines, as pharmaceutical firms have been refusing to sell Iran drugs due to difficulties in receiving payments.
Iran's Health Ministry official Hossein Ayati said previously that some 97 percent of Iran's required medicine is currently produced domestically, adding "about 50 percent of necessary raw material for producing the medicine is imported."
Iran imported 16,000 tons of drugs worth $1.468 billion, during the Iranian calendar year of 1391(which ended on March 20, 2013).