Maputo — The first phase of a pharmaceutical plant to produce anti-retroviral drugs in Mozambique will begin before the end of this year, according to the Brazilian Minister of Development Industry and Foreign Trade, Miguel Jorge.

Installing this factory is part of the Brazilian cooperation programme with Mozambique, and is being carried out by the Brazilian Osvaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), which opened offices in Maputo in October.

Cited in Tuesday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias", Jorge said that the foundation is later to start transferring technology and equipment, and will start training staff to operate the factory.

Besides anti-retrovirals, the factory is also to produce other generic drugs, including those to fight against malaria and tuberculosis.

According to FIOCRUZ, the first phase of the undertaking is to cost about nine million US dollars, to build the factory and purchase equipments and other necessary goods. The Mozambican government is to contribute with two million US dollars.

This project has been under preparation since 2003, when Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva visited Mozambique, but only this year did the Brazilian Senate give the green light for it to be implemented.