The Governments of Barbados and Nigeria yesterday solidified a historic partnership to advance local pharmaceutical production, strengthen regulatory cooperation, and expand regional market access across the Caribbean, Latin America, ECOWAS and the African continent.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between Barbados Pharmaceuticals Inc. (BPI) and Nigeria’s Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), establishing a comprehensive framework for collaboration in four areas:
- Industrial capacity and human capital development
- Market access and market shaping
- Clinical trials cooperation
- Regulatory, financing, and policy alignment
The agreement follows months of high-level engagements, including ministerial discussions held between Barbados’ Minister of Health, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Dr. Jerome Walcott, and Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and builds on ongoing work with AMA Medical Manufacturing, a leading Nigerian biopharmaceutical company exploring the establishment of a manufacturing facility in Barbados.
Minister Walcott welcomed the partnership, noting that it aligns with the vision articulated by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, who has repeatedly called for a transatlantic pharmaceutical bridge across Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
“This MOU represents a decisive step in strengthening health sovereignty for both regions,” said Minister Walcott. “Barbados sees Nigeria as a strategic partner in advancing industrial capability, technology transfer, and shared health security across the Global South.”
Prof. Pate emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to expanding local production under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Executive Order aimed at achieving 70% domestic production of essential medicines and medical devices by 2030.
“This partnership opens new pathways for investment, innovation, and regional integration,” said Prof. Pate. “Nigeria is pleased to join hands with Barbados to shape a future where our nations produce the medicines our populations depend on.”
Key actions under the MOU include:
- Development of a Barbados–Nigeria pharmaceutical skills pathway, including GMP, QC, sterile manufacturing, and regulatory training
- Reciprocal market entry into CARICOM/LATAM for Nigerian producers and ECOWAS/AfCFTA for Barbados-based manufacturers
- Linking Barbados’ clinical networks with Nigeria’s National Clinical Trials Consortium
- Establishing a Regulatory Reliance Agreement between NAFDAC and the emerging Barbados Medicines and Products Regulatory Authority (BMPRA)
- A joint financing pipeline with DFIs such as Afreximbank, AfDB and EIB
The partnership also advances ongoing discussions with AMA Medical Manufacturing, which is assessing the establishment of a biomedical and IV fluid manufacturing facility in Barbados, creating the first Africa–Caribbean pharmaceutical production corridor.
The Joint Steering Committee established by the MOU will begin immediate implementation planning.