By Sunil Goyal, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
The Third Edition of the World Local Production Forum concluded successfully in Abu Dhabi, bringing together key decision-makers, global experts, and stakeholders to advance the agenda of local production for health equity, global health security, and sustainable development.
Held from April 7 to 9, 2025, under the theme “Advancing Local Production for Health Equity, Global Health Security and Sustainable Development”, the forum witnessed participation from 4,077 attendees representing 141 countries, including 16 ministers and over 229 international speakers.
In his closing remarks, H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chairman of the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to becoming a global hub for pharmaceutical innovation and advanced healthcare technologies.
“International collaboration is the path to constructive change. By linking investment to innovation and policy to impact, we can build an inclusive and resilient healthcare system that serves communities everywhere,” said H.E. Dr. Thani.
H.E. Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Director General of the EDE, emphasized that local capabilities and resilient pharmaceutical ecosystems are key to health security. She participated in the high-level panel “Localizing Pharmaceutical Innovation”, where she outlined the UAE’s vision to attract investment and top talent to the sector.
The forum featured eight thematic areas, including policy frameworks, research and innovation, financing strategies, AI and digital transformation, pandemic preparedness, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, Assistant Director General at the World Health Organization (WHO), underscored the importance of strengthening local production as a pillar of resilient healthcare systems, commending the UAE’s leadership in this area.
Notable speakers included:
Dr. Luis Pizarro, Executive Director, DNDi – Highlighted the need for health solutions tailored to local needs and investment in human capital.
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director, DoH – Abu Dhabi – Presented Abu Dhabi’s R&D strategy and pandemic response success.
Mr. Robert Matiru, Director of Programmes, UNITAID – Shared a successful model of tech-transfer-led manufacturing in Africa.
Mr. Rajinder Kumar Suri, CEO, DCVMN – Advocated for regional vaccine production hubs and regulatory alignment.
Mr. Guilherme Cintra, Head of Policy, CEPI – Called for inclusive global collaboration in vaccine development.
During the forum, Dr. Al Kaabi also visited the Adcan Pharma manufacturing facility to explore collaboration opportunities aimed at strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.
The event was organized by Emirates Drug Establishment, in partnership with the World Health Organization, and supported by an international network of partners. In a symbolic closing gesture, the hosting torch was handed over to the Republic of Indonesia, which will host the 4th World Local Production Forum in 2026.
This year’s forum reaffirmed the UAE’s leadership in building a sustainable and inclusive global health architecture powered by innovation, partnership, and local manufacturing capacity.
