In a step that reflects Egypt's growing prominence on the global pharmaceutical and biotechnology map—and following intense international competition to secure World Health Organization designation as regional centers specialized in biomanufacturing workforce development—Egypt participated in a high-level international conference organized by the WHO in Geneva, Switzerland. Held from June 3 to 5 under the theme “Synergizing Biomanufacturing Workforce Development,”
This participation follows the official designation of the EDA's Continuous Professional Development Center as a Regional Training Centre for biomanufacturing in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. With this milestone, Egypt’s center becomes one of only six internationally accredited hubs globally under the WHO Biomanufacturing Workforce Training Initiative.
Egypt’s involvement in this prominent event underscores the advanced standing the country enjoys regionally and internationally in pharmaceutical regulation and capacity building.
Dr. Ali Al-Ghamrawy, Chairman of the EDA, emphasized that the WHO’s selection of the authority's Continuous Professional Development Center serves as a new international testament to the efficiency of the Egyptian regulatory system. He noted that it highlights Egypt's capacity to effectively support knowledge transfer and capacity-building efforts across the region, adding that this accreditation represents the culmination of continuous efforts to develop training programs and upgrade human resources in alignment with the latest international standards and practices.
He added that the EDA places investing in human capital and enhancing technical and scientific capabilities at the forefront of its strategic priorities. This stems from a core belief that qualified competencies are the cornerstone of advancing the biomanufacturing sector, supporting innovation, and achieving pharmaceutical security.
He also stressed the authority's commitment to expanding cooperation with international partners and global organizations to exchange expertise and foster regional integration, thereby cementing Egypt's status as a leading regional hub for pharmaceutical training, qualification, and regulation.
During the conference sessions, the EDA delegation presented the vision of the Continuous Professional Development Center and its role as a WHO-accredited regional center. The presentation highlighted the authority's efforts to design specialized biomanufacturing training programs that aim to qualify technical and scientific cadres across the region and enhance workforce readiness to keep pace with rapid developments in this vital sector.
The EDA delegation participating in the conference included Dr. Rasha Ziada, EDA Chairman's Assistant for Technical Development and Capability Building Affairs, and Dr. Osama Hatem, Associate to the EDA Chairman for Policy and International Cooperation and Supervisor of the Central Administration of Pharmaceutical Policies and Market Access.
Both officials actively engaged in working sessions and technical panel discussions focused on mechanisms to develop specialized training curricula and strengthen collaboration between the designated regional training centers and the WHO.
The conference also witnessed extensive discussions on frameworks to enhance coordination and alignment between the WHO, the WHO Academy, the Global Training Hub for Biomanufacturing in South Korea, and the six accredited regional training centers worldwide. These discussions aimed to unify efforts and develop collaborative frameworks to ensure the effective implementation of the global initiative and the fulfillment of its objectives across various global regions.