Pakistan has formally requested that Ethiopia speed up approvals for Pakistani pharmaceutical products and manufacturing facilities, according to discussions between the two countries' trade officials. Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan raised the issue during high-level talks in Islamabad, stating that administrative delays are preventing Pakistani exporters from entering the Ethiopian market. Minister Khan said that Pakistani companies need predictable timelines, clear regulatory rules, and transparent procedures to build confidence in doing business with Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Ambassador confirmed that he has engaged directly with Ethiopian health authorities about the backlog of pending pharmaceutical registrations and received assurances that the issues would be addressed. However, officials clarified that these assurances do not guarantee immediate approvals, which remain subject to formal review by the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA).
Pakistan's Commerce Secretary Jawad Paul proposed that an Ethiopian technical delegation visit Pakistan to conduct on-site inspections of manufacturing facilities and evaluate production standards. This technical assessment is a required step for advancing outstanding registration applications, though no official schedule or list of approved companies has been set.
Ethiopia's regulatory framework requires pharmaceutical manufacturers to undergo thorough evaluation before products can be sold in the country. The EFDA requires local representatives to demonstrate technical competency and understand submission procedures, though applicants frequently make errors that cause applications to be rejected before scientific review begins.