King Abdallah of Jordan on Tuesday stressed the important role of investors and businessmen in supporting the country’s economy and providing solutions to mitigate the problems of poverty and unemployment.

During a visit to Hikma Pharmaceuticals, the king stressed the importance of focusing on developing the capabilities of the national economy in the coming stage through investment projects where the private sector can play a major role.

The king inaugurated Hikma Pharmaceuticals’ chemical plant for oncology active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) specialized in producing effective raw materials for cancer medications. He underscored the company’s role in providing thousands of job opportunities for qualified Jordanians. He highlighted the contributions Hikma made to the economy and the labor market across the Kingdom at all its manufacturing sites.

Accompanied by ministers and other prime dignitaries, the king listened to a short review about Hikma Pharmaceuticals by Mazen Darwazah, CEO and president of MENA and emerging markets at Hikma Pharmaceuticals. The King was given a tour of the new plant and briefed by Dr. Yusuf Al-Khayyat, director general of the new plant, on its goals mainly providing a sustainable source of the vital ingredients needed for cancer medications in Jordan in particular and MENA countries in general.

Darwazah said: “36 years ago, Hikma Pharmaceuticals started manufacturing pharmaceutical products as a local emerging industry fulfilling part of the national pharmaceutical market’s needs. Today, it’s a Jordanian company marketing its products worldwide, owning 27 manufacturing facilities in 11 countries, contributing to over 7 percent of the national exports and holding a 12 percent share in the Jordanian Pharmaceutical Market. We take pride in Hikma’s accomplishments; we recognize that this success would not have been achieved without the supportive environment and capabilities offered by our precious country under the Hashemite leadership. The king’s honorable presence is a motivation for the Hikma family to grow, working confidently toward a better future.”

Hikma has become the first company to establish a world class oncology API plant in the MENA region. This latest expansion finalizes the production cycle of oncology products.

Designed with state-of-the-art technology (isolators technology) to comply with local and global registration requirements, the Oncology API plant is a significant frontward integration that will add great value to the manufacturing capabilities of the of the company and will reduce Hikma’s dependency on external parties.

Hikma is committed to providing high quality medication to cancer patients worldwide and especially in Jordan. Hikma has invested a lot in developing capabilities for the manufacturing of oncology products; these investments include the acquisition of Thymoorgan in Germany, joint venture with Haosun in China and the recent establishment of the oncology line in the chemicals plant in Jordan.