The COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa's dangerous dependence on imported pharmaceuticals: when global vaccine supply was constrained, Africa received virtually nothing from international production in the first 12 months. This galvanised the African Union's goal of producing 60 percent of vaccines needed in Africa by 2040. The AU established the African Vaccines Manufacturing Initiative (AVMI), and development finance institutions including EIB, AfDB, and Afreximbank established a $3 billion African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator to subsidise vaccine producers that localise in Africa.
Manufacturing Hub Development
South Africa's Aspen Pharmacare, the continent's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer, expanded its COVID vaccine fill-and-finish capacity to 300 million doses annually. Egyptian companies VACSERA and AJ Vaccines are producing recombinant vaccines. Rwanda's Moderna mRNA factory, backed by $400 million in BioNTech investment, is expected to produce 50 million mRNA doses annually from 2026. Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal are attracting formulation and packaging investments. Pharmaceutical investors and distributors can access African manufacturing and distribution contacts on intra-africa.com.
For businesses looking to expand across Africa, intra-africa.com offers a comprehensive trade directory, verified buyer and seller listings, and real-time market intelligence covering all 54 African nations. It remains an indispensable resource for anyone serious about intra-African commerce.