African Pharma Delegation in Frankfurt ©William Addo

A delegation of African pharmaceutical sector leaders recently journeyed to Germany, where they seized opportunities to connect with global industry players, explore cutting-edge technologies, and champion Africa’s expanding role the global pharmaceutical landscape.

Uniting for Progress

Thirty-four pharmaceutical sector representatives from Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, and Rwanda took part in a week-long business delegation trip to Germany at the end of October 2025. The mission was to strengthen international business partnerships, gain insights into advanced manufacturing, and elevate Africa’s profile in the global pharmaceutical industry.

The trip was a joint initiative between the four countries’ respective pharma sector support programmes,  co-financed by German Cooperation and the European Union and implemented by GIZ under the Team Europe Initiative MAV+. It brought together executives, association leaders, researchers and public sector representatives for a full and intensive agenda.

Participation at CPHI Frankfurt 2025

At the world’s largest pharma industry event, CPHI Frankfurt, over 65,000 attendees and more than  2,400 exhibitors came together to showcase innovations and discuss global trends. African delegates actively engaged in B2B networking, explored  emerging technologies and manufacturing solutions, and attended conference sessions to keep abreast with industry developments. While Africa’s presence at the fair was still modest, the event offered valuable visibility  and partnership opportunities for the participating delegates.

West Africa Industry Roundtable and B2B Networking

After the fair, a dedicated session on market opportunities in West Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector brought together approximately  60 participants at GIZ’s head office in Eschborn. The event was organised in partnership with BMZ, UNIDO, the African German Health Association and several German business associations. The lively discussion highlighted both the promise and challenges of investing in West Africa’s growing pharmaceutical market, with Ghana and Senegal presenting their regulatory achievements, business-friendly initiatives, and growth of emerging local manufacturers. The event reinforced  the importance of connecting international investors with the right local partners.

Site Visits to German Pharma Leaders Sartorius and Fresenius-Kabi

In addition, delegates visited the Sartorius headquarters in Göttingen, a leader in biopharma technologies, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to foster collaboration between Sartorius and GIZ. The agreement aims to promote sustainable investment, support technology and knowledge transfer, including training programmes, and strengthen resilient supply chains for biologics and advanced therapies in Africa. The visit included hands-on demonstrations of virtual reality training and bioprocessing innovations. During a second visit to Fresenius-Kabi’s facility in Friedberg , participants observed state-of-the-art sterile production lines for infusions and explored advanced logistics and packaging systems.

Looking Ahead

By building bridges with international partners and championing innovation, African pharma leaders are laying the groundwork for a resilient, future-ready industry. The trip demonstrated the value of combining participation in global industry events with direct exposure to leading manufacturers. As one participant stated, the experience provided “new ideas to manage our factories.” Delegates gained first-hand knowledge of new technologies, expanded professional networks, and identified opportunities for strategic B2B partnerships. “CPHI is a good place to meet key partners,” said another participant. However, the experience also revealed that Africa remains underrepresented at major global pharma events, with few exhibitors present and limited conference focus on the continent. As delegates reflected on the journey, a shared vision emerged: to reunite for CPHI 2026 in Milan, Italy, with a joint African pavilion that showcase the progress and potential of Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector to the world.

November 2025