The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and Hubei Provincial People’s Government jointly held a promotion event for the province on July 12, under the theme of "China in the New Era: Hubei, from the Yangtze River to the World".

During the event, the advantages and achievements of Wuhan East Lake High-tech Development Zone (Optics Valley of China) in Wuhan, Hubei’s provincial capital, were promoted, as well as one particular company in the zone –– Humanwell Healthcare.

Founded in 1993, Humanwell Healthcare has grown into a fully integrated healthcare solutions provider. It has made great contributions to the healthcare sector in African countries.

In 2015, the company built a modern pharmaceutical plant in Mali with investment of 300 million yuan ($44.8 million) –– the first one in West Africa, and the plant produces and sells nearly 100 types of medicine, making it a vital piece of infrastructure for the continent. 

The plant covers an area of 19,000 square meters, with an annual output of 30 million bottles of medicinal syrup and oral suspension, and 40 million bottles of large-volume injections. 

It is also the largest Chinese-built pharmaceutical plant with the largest investment and production scale in West Africa.

In 2017, the company built a pharmaceutical plant in Ethiopia, with an annual output of 30 million bottles of syrup suspension and 50,000 units of solid preparations.

Currently, it trials and produces 31 varieties of anti-infective, anti-bacterial and psychotropic medications, and the number will eventually exceed 100. Also, the plant is expected to become the largest one in East Africa in the future.

Humanwell Healthcare has introduced advanced pharmaceutical technologies and equipment to Africa, helping to train medical and technical professionals for the continent.

The company not only promotes development of the healthcare sector in Africa, but also strengthens cooperation between China and Africa, argued one local newspaper.

A pharmaceutical plant built by Humanwell Healthcare in Africa [Photo provided to China Daily]

Employees work on the production line at a Humanwell Healthcare-built facility in Africa. [Photo provided to China Daily]

A staff member of Humanwell Healthcare trains an African employee to use the equipment. [Photo provided to China Daily]