Under a memorandum of understanding signed this week in Seoul, SK Plasma will produce one million liters of raw material plasma on consignment at its plant in Andong. The deal worth $330 million calls for the establishment of a fractionation plant in Egypt.
Blood products are essential for the treatment of congenital immunodeficiency disease and hemophilias. Due to high technical barriers, it is difficult to secure stable raw materials. Egypt relies entirely on imported blood products and abandons all the blood it collects.
The transfer of technology will enable the self-sufficiency of blood products in Egypt, SK Plasma said in a statement published on Thursday, adding the company aims to use its tie-up with Acdima as a bridgehead for neighboring countries in the Middle East and Africa.
SK Plasma, a unit of SK Group, has sought a turnaround in its loss-making business through overseas expansion. Last year, the company exported about $20 million worth of blood products to Brazil and signed a contract with Indonesia on consignment products.