India–Ethiopia advance pharma collaboration in high-level DCGI meeting

New Delhi: A high-level Ethiopian delegation led by Frehiwot Abebe, State Minister of Health, held strategic discussions with senior officials from the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) on November 14, 2025.

The meeting centred on strengthening cooperation in regulatory frameworks, pharmaceutical standards, and investment opportunities within India’s pharmaceutical sector.

Representing Ethiopia’s growing commitment to deepening partnerships with India, the delegation included Heran Gerba, Aknaw Kawza, Messay Woldemariam, and Solomon Abdela. Their visit builds on efforts to enhance Ethiopia’s pharmaceutical capabilities while exploring avenues for closer collaboration with Indian manufacturers and regulatory bodies. These interactions are expected to support greater regulatory harmonisation, improved drug testing processes, and more efficient certification mechanisms between the two countries.

Bhavin Mehta, Vice Chairman of Pharmexcil, noted, “We anticipate these discussions will pave the way for greater synergies in pharmaceutical development, investment, and trade, strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Ethiopia in the pharmaceutical sector.”

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was Ethiopia’s strong interest in adopting Indian Pharmacopeia (IP) standards for drug testing and certification. Aligning with IP’s robust and cost-effective regulatory framework is expected to streamline testing procedures and enhance the global competitiveness of Indian-manufactured pharmaceuticals.

Both sides concluded the meeting with a shared commitment to next steps, including structured B2B engagements, reciprocal delegations, capacity-building workshops, and a comprehensive roadmap for advancing India–Ethiopia pharmaceutical cooperation.