Abu dhabi: Saeed Al Hajeri, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Drug Establishment, met with Dr. Oh Yu-Kyoung, Minister of Food and Drug Safety of the Republic of Korea. The meeting, attended by Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Abdulla Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector, particularly in regulatory development, knowledge exchange, and joint research and industrial initiatives.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting was part of Al Hajeri's visit to the Republic of Korea, aimed at expanding collaboration opportunities across the pharmaceutical and medical fields. The discussion reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in September 2024 by the Emirates Drug Establishment and the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. This MoU seeks to establish a strategic partnership to enhance regulatory frameworks and drive innovation in the pharmaceutical sector, aligning with the Establishment's vision to build a life sciences sector that supports advanced technologies for pharmaceutical security and growth of medical industries.
Saeed Al Hajeri emphasized that the Emirates Drug Establishment has designated the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as a reference authority after a comprehensive study confirmed alignment with international standards. This approach aligns with leadership directives to strengthen strategic partnerships with leading countries in the pharmaceutical field and supports the Establishment's strategy to develop an advanced national sector guaranteeing drug security and sustainable development.
Al Hajeri highlighted that this decision will attract pharmaceutical innovation and facilitate trade between the two countries, supporting technology transfer and joint research and industrial projects. These efforts aim to strengthen the UAE's position as a regional hub for advanced pharmaceutical industries. Al Hajeri noted that the partnership aligns with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision and the country's commitment to health innovation and sustainability through a flexible and effective regulatory environment.
Dr. Oh Yu-Kyoung expressed appreciation for the Emirates Drug Establishment's decision, affirming UAE confidence in Korean expertise. She reiterated her country's commitment to expanding collaboration with the Emirates Drug Establishment and commended the rapid development of the pharmaceutical and medical industries in the UAE. These efforts have strengthened the UAE's position as an important strategic partner in the region.
The collaboration with Korea aligns with strategic objectives to bolster the national pharmaceutical security system, elevate the UAE pharmaceutical model to international standards, and develop an integrated regulatory environment for medical products. These efforts support the UAE's competitiveness and reinforce its position as a regional and global hub for pharmaceutical innovation.