During a working visit to Indonesia, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Aleksey Gruzdev, discussed expanding supplies of innovative Russian medicines and practical steps towards implementing the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)–Indonesia Free Trade Agreement.
He held talks with the heads of the country’s ministries and agencies, according to the ministry’s
website. He discussed the expansion of industrial cooperation with Indonesia’s Minister of Industry, Muhammad Sarmuji.
During talks with Taruna Ikrar, Head of the National Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM), both sides reaffirmed their interest in increasing supplies of innovative Russian medicines, technology transfer and the localisation of production.
The parties also discussed strengthening cooperation between pharmaceutical inspectorates.
With Deputy Minister of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Edi Prio Pambudi, practical steps were considered for the implementation of the EAEU–Indonesia Free Trade Agreement, as well as priority areas for cooperation. These include metallurgy, petrochemicals, power engineering, telecommunications equipment and standardisation.
During a meeting with Sigit Puji Santoso, Technical Director of the Danatara Investment Management Agency (Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund – Ed.), particular attention was paid to promising projects in the fields of port infrastructure, the aviation industry and cyber security.
Issues relating to the labelling and traceability of goods were also discussed separately.
The talks between the two countries reaffirmed the commitment to deepening the comprehensive trade and economic partnership between Russia and Indonesia, the statement noted.
Earlier, the President of the Republic, Prabowo Subianto, announced that the free trade agreement between Indonesia and the EAEU is expected to come into force in early 2027. He made this statement at the plenary session of the 11th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, which he attended as a guest of honour.
This approach is accompanied by a growing interest among the BRICS countries and their partners in developing the pharmaceutical industry and medical technologies, strengthening capacity for the production of medicines and the exchange of technological expertise, as well as expanding the population’s access to healthcare services.
In this context, Kazakhstan’s pharmaceutical industry has expanded over the past three years, with the production volume of local companies rising by 37 per cent to reach approximately US$414.5 million. The official
website of the Kazakh Prime Minister stated that the production of medicines and medical supplies in the first half of 2026 amounted to approximately US$274.8 million, an increase of nearly 30 per cent compared with the same period the previous year. Moreover, Kazakhstan is home to 209 companies producing pharmaceutical and medical products, including 43 specialising in the manufacture of medicines, whilst the share of domestic products by volume reached 40.3 per cent in August 2026.
The country is implementing eight major projects to establish new pharmaceutical facilities and expand existing factories, which are expected to enable the production of more than 494 locally manufactured pharmaceutical products for the first time, including treatments for cancer, diabetes, infectious and immune-related diseases, and rare diseases.
In a separate initiative aimed at improving access to medicines for the population, Malaysia is working on a pilot project to use drones to deliver medicines to remote rural communities, particularly areas where residents face difficulties in accessing healthcare facilities, as reported by
Vietnam News Agency (VNA), a partner of TV BRICS. Studies by the University of Malaysia Sabah indicate that some residents of remote areas travel distances of between 20 and 30 kilometres to reach hospitals, highlighting the importance of medicine delivery services for patients requiring regular treatment.
Furthermore, as part of international cooperation in biotechnology, Russia and Cuba have announced the establishment of their first joint venture in the biopharmaceutical sector, with the aim of supporting the development of innovative treatments and the exchange of scientific and technical knowledge, reports
teleSUR, a partner of TV BRICS. Experts noted that the project aims to advance cooperation in biotechnology and the production of innovative medicines, involving initiatives linked to start-ups and technology innovation centres in Russia. Existing cooperation between the two countries includes Cuban medicines that are registered and used within the Russian healthcare system to treat diabetic foot ulcers, burns and certain inflammatory and immune-related conditions, as well as lung cancer. One of the new project’s programmes is expected to focus on the development of advanced cancer treatments, as part of a broader partnership between Moscow and Havana that also encompasses energy, transport, tourism and higher education.