Jordan and Yemen’s Houthi-led gov’t sign agreement on drug cooperation

Jordan and Yemen’s Houthi-led government in Sanaa have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen technical cooperation in the pharmaceutical sector. The agreement, signed in Amman yesterday by the Head of the Supreme Board for Drugs and Medical Appliances (SBDMA), Dr. Ali Muhammad Abbas, and the Director of the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA), Dr. Nizar Mahidat, covers expertise exchange, regulatory alignment and industrial collaboration.

Dr. Abbas described the MoU as a first step in joint cooperation, which will be followed by further agreements on drug registration and other areas of mutual interest. According to the Federation of Arab News Agencies (FANA), he expressed a desire to expand the presence of Jordanian pharmaceuticals in the Yemeni market, citing their “good” reputation and emphasised the importance of transferring Jordan’s “pioneering” expertise to support Yemen’s national pharmaceutical industry.

Dr. Mahidat highlighted the agreement’s role in strengthening Arab drug security and fostering partnerships to overcome industry challenges. The MoU also includes provisions for verifying the quality of medicines and medical supplies, aligning regulatory procedures and training personnel in laboratory testing and bioequivalence studies.

The Yemen News Portal notes that the Hashemite Kingdom’s recognition of the Sanaa government was implicit in the signing of this cooperation agreement. This development is particularly significant given that Jordan, a close ally of Saudi Arabia, does not officially recognise the Houthi-led de facto government in Yemen. Notably, Jordan participated in the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis in 2015, deploying fighter jets as part of the military operations.

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