African leaders and global health stakeholders have launched the Africa Initiative for Medical Access and Manufacturing (AIM2030) in Nairobi, a major effort aimed at strengthening local pharmaceutical production and improving access to affordable medical products across the continent.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over Africa’s heavy dependence on imported medicines and vaccines. African countries currently import between 70 and 100 percent of finished pharmaceutical products and about 99 percent of vaccines, with less than one percent produced locally.
Experts warned that the reliance on imports leaves African health systems vulnerable to supply chain disruptions, price shocks, and export restrictions, challenges that became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
AIM2030 Targets Stronger Regional Manufacturing
Speaking during the AIM2030 meeting , Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said the initiative aims to support Africa’s ambition of doubling pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity by 2030.
“At its core, AIM2030 is about supporting Africa’s ambition to double pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity by 2030 through stronger regional manufacturing and supply chains,” Diop said.
He noted that stronger local production systems are critical in building resilient healthcare systems capable of responding to future emergencies.
“Resilience cannot be imported in the middle of a crisis. It must be built in advance. That is why stronger regional manufacturing and supply chains matter,” he added.
Diop said the initiative is not only about health security but also economic transformation through industrial growth, investment, and job creation.
President William Ruto while addressing the AIM2030, said Kenya is taking proactive measures to expand pharmaceutical and healthcare manufacturing capacity as part of its broader economic and healthcare agenda.
“Our goal is to position Kenya as a regional hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing, health innovation, and medical supply chains, serving both the Kenyan and the wider African markets,” President Ruto said.
The President said Kenya’s strategic location as the gateway to Eastern Africa, combined with a growing domestic market, advanced logistics infrastructure, and an improving investment climate, places the country in a strong position to lead regional medical manufacturing.
Local Manufacturing Seen as Key to Health Security
Stakeholders at the meeting emphasized that expanding local manufacturing can shorten supply chains, improve the availability of priority medical products, and strengthen preparedness against pandemics and other emergencies.
The initiative is also expected to support economic resilience by creating skilled jobs, attracting private investment, and deepening regional health value chains across Africa.
AIM2030 brings together governments, development finance institutions, investors, and private sector partners to accelerate the production of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and other healthcare products on the continent.