On May 5, 2025, the prestigious Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku hosted an international conference entitled "Azerbaijan Pharmaceutical Industry: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," alongside the bilateral forum "Azerbaijan and Hungary: A Pathway to Mutual Growth." The event emphasized Azerbaijan's pharmaceutical sector's development and explored avenues for strengthened collaboration between Azerbaijan and Hungary.
Organized collaboratively by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Health, Hungary's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Hungarian Embassy in Baku led by Ambassador Tamás József Torma, and Scandens Pharmaceuticals, the conference attracted approximately 360 delegates, including high-ranking officials, industry experts, and academic representatives from both nations.
Minister of Health of Azerbaijan, Dr. Teymur Musayev, officially inaugurated the conference, emphasizing the strategic importance of the pharmaceutical sector for Azerbaijan’s healthcare and economy. The event featured keynote presentations by notable Azerbaijani officials including Zaur Aliyev, Chairman of the State Agency on Mandatory Health Insurance; Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy; Orkhan Mammadov, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Agency; and Valeh Alasgarov, Chairman of the Alat Free Economic Zone Authority. They discussed ongoing reforms, legislative advancements, and infrastructure investments crucial for developing Azerbaijan's pharmaceutical industry. Scandens Pharmaceutical Industries LTD is the first high-technology pharmaceutical site in the country that carries out the full cycle of solid dosage form production through Research and Development (R&D).
Hungarian participation was robust, demonstrating the nation's interest in deepening its pharmaceutical ties with Azerbaijan. Dr. András Fittler, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Pécs, highlighted academic cooperation potential, particularly expressing interest in welcoming Azerbaijani students to specialized training programs in Hungary. Industry insights were provided by Ákos Karsay, Head of Drug Reimbursement at the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund; András Orosz, Regional Head of Gedeon Richter Plc; Csaba Pácz, Chief Commercial Officer of Egis Pharmaceuticals Plc; and József Péter Pallos, CEO of PannonPharma Ltd., outlining strategies for bilateral industry collaboration and opportunities future joint projects.
The productive sessions concluded with an evening cultural event hosted by the Embassy of Hungary Baku, where participants experienced Azerbaijani traditions through local cuisine and allowed opportunities for informal discussions further strengthening personal connections and expanding partnership possibilities.
A central outcome from these engagements was a mutual commitment to academic exchange, particularly enabling Azerbaijani pharmacy students to pursue advanced studies in Hungary, paving the way for sustained educational and professional exchanges. This conference marks a significant milestone in Azerbaijan and Hungary's evolving partnership within the pharmaceutical sector, underscoring mutual benefits in education, healthcare, and economic growth.