The WHO, UNCTAD and ICTSD are launching a new project on pharmaceutical-related transfer of technology in favour of developing countries. The project is funded by the European Commission.

The UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Petko Draganov will open the roundtable introducing the challenges of local production of pharmaceuticals and the new project.

Dr. Elil Renganathan, the Director of the WHO Secretariat on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, will also speak on the launch of the new project and the developments at WHO.

The Chief Executive of ICTSD, Ricardo Melendez-Ortiz, will address the recent multilateral developments, the challenges of access to medicine and the collaboration under the new project on pharmaceutical-related transfer of technology in favour of developing countries.

Jürgen Reinhardt of UNIDO will speak on the industrial and economic challenges of pharmaceutical production in developing countries and the work of UNIDO in this regard.

Ambassador Fisseha Yimer will co-chair the roundtable and present the experience of Ethiopia on local production of pharmaceuticals.