This collaboration is expected to promote bioproducts, especially for high-prevalence conditions,Jakarta (ANTARA) – Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto expressed optimism that a new joint venture between Indonesian and Chinese pharmaceutical companies will strengthen Indonesia's healthcare independence.Speaking at the official launch of PT Tempo CTTQ Biopharmaceutical Indonesia (TCBI) here on Friday, Airlangga highlighted the strategic need to expand domestic drug manufacturing to reduce reliance on costly imported medicines.”This collaboration is expected to promote bioproducts, especially for high-prevalence conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and liver disease,” Airlangga said.He noted that developing the domestic biopharmaceutical industry is a crucial step toward achieving self-sufficiency, as Indonesia remains heavily dependent on imported innovative medicines, which are often significantly more expensive.Airlangga added that local manufacturing would help lower drug prices, make advanced treatments more accessible to the public, and ease financial pressure on the national health insurance program (BPJS Kesehatan).”Hopefully, through this biopharmaceutical partnership, we will achieve greater independence in a pharmaceutical sector that has previously relied heavily on imports,” he said, noting that several imported medicines in Indonesia are currently more expensive than those in neighboring countries such as Malaysia.Through TCBI, Indonesian company PT Tempo Scan Pacific and Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group (CTTQ)—a subsidiary of China's Sino Biopharmaceutical (SBP Group)—plan to establish a specialty pharmaceutical and innovative healthcare platform.The company aims to gradually introduce innovative products in the coming years by leveraging SBP Group's research, development, and manufacturing capabilities.Executive Chairman and Co-founder of Tempo Scan Group Handojo S. Muljadi described the joint venture as a strategic effort to strengthen Indonesia's biotechnology sector and broader healthcare ecosystem.”This joint venture is clear evidence that Indonesia remains an attractive long-term destination for foreign investors,” Handojo said.