Sanofi, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health, inaugurated today its new logistics hub in the region at Dubai Logistics District in the presence of Dr Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health Policy and Licensing at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention.
One of the largest facilities of its kind in the Middle East pharmaceutical industry, the 2,740 sq ft distribution centre will serve as the company’s new regional logistics headquarters and facilitate the delivery of over 22 million packs of medicines every year to treat the health conditions of patients in six countries, including the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq.
His Excellency Dr Al Amiri said: “An efficient supply chain is fundamental to ensuring access to quality treatment for many. This is an important priority for the UAE, and we applaud Sanofi for its efforts and contribution towards the continued achievement of this goal in the country.”
Occupying from Kuehne + Nagel a 4,000 pallets location for ambient temperature control storage locations and a 450 pallets location for cold chain products storage, the distribution centre is equipped with the latest warehousing and cold chain technologies that adhere to the strictest global quality standards required to preserve the integrity of medication before it reaches pharmacies, and eventually the patients.
Speaking on the inauguration of the distribution centre, Jean-Paul Scheuer, Country Chair and General Manager of Sanofi Gulf, said that moving to the new facility has enabled the company to increase its storage capacity by 68 per cent.
He added: “Beyond expanding operationally, this investment, more importantly, translates into a faster ability to respond to patients’ needs, delivering innovative treatments and fostering better access to healthcare. The realization of this commitment, for which Sanofi stands very strongly, is possible because of the world-class healthcare infrastructure that the UAE offers. We thank the Ministry of Health and Prevention for its leadership and unwavering partnership over the years.”
Sanofi began its operations in the Gulf in the 1970s and established its very first affiliate in 1987 in the UAE. Employing over 500 colleagues from 35 nationalities, the company offers health and well-being solutions with a focus on diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, oncology, immunology, multiple sclerosis, rare diseases, and vaccines.