Call for jt efforts to develop country's pharma sector
Saturday, 23 February 2008
FE Report
A seminar on 'Investment and Export Opportunities in Pharmaceuticals Industry of Bangladesh' was held at the DCCI auditorium in the city Wednesday.
The seminar was jointly organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industry (BAPI) and Local Enterprise Investment Centre (LEIC).
The seminar was conducted by DCCI President Hossain Khaled.
DCCI Director Asif Ibrahim gave a multi-media presentation on 'Supply of Demand for Pharmaceuticals and Natural Products'.
Nazmul Hossain, group brand manager of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and Rasna Hasan, head of corporate affairs and communication of Novartis, also gave multimedia presentations on 'Required Certifications in Pharmaceuticals Industry and Procedures for Exporting Pharmaceuticals Products' and 'Contract Manufacturing from Bangladesh' respectively.
President of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industry (BAPI) SM Safiuzzaman Khokon and Secretary General of BAPI Nazmul Hasan were also present in the seminar.
The DCCI president, in his speech, said pharmaceuticals sector is one of the fast growing sectors of Bangladesh and has the opportunity to grow further under the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement of WTO.
He further said pharmaceuticals sector has a domestic market of about US$ 700 million, 97 per cent of which is met by local industries.
"Our local companies are now exporting medicines to 68 countries all over the world. In 2006-07, total export was $28.12 million with a growth rate of 47 per cent in the last fiscal year. But almost 85 per cent of the total required raw materials are imported,'' he said.
He also said: "Our projected total import is almost $300 million for the next three years.''
He said, the concerned trade bodies, BAPI and the government may work together to remove the impediments to the country's pharmaceuticals sector which particularly needs new investment for production of Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (API) for building export capacity and reduction of dependence on imported materials.
Nazmul Hasan spoke on investment and export opportunities in pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh. SM Shafiuzzaman Khokon informed the seminar that BAPI had already provided nearly 75,000 licences for opening pharmacy shops in the country. He also said there are nearly 200,000 pharmacy shops in Bangladesh out of which 75,000 are operating with valid licences.
He said the number of Pharmacy graduates in Bangladesh now stands at approximately 3000.
Among others, DCCI Vice-President Khandaker Shahidul Islam, DCCI past president ASM Quasem, other DCCI directors and participants were present in the seminar.
A seminar on 'Investment and Export Opportunities in Pharmaceuticals Industry of Bangladesh' was held at the DCCI auditorium in the city Wednesday.
The seminar was jointly organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industry (BAPI) and Local Enterprise Investment Centre (LEIC).
The seminar was conducted by DCCI President Hossain Khaled.
DCCI Director Asif Ibrahim gave a multi-media presentation on 'Supply of Demand for Pharmaceuticals and Natural Products'.
Nazmul Hossain, group brand manager of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, and Rasna Hasan, head of corporate affairs and communication of Novartis, also gave multimedia presentations on 'Required Certifications in Pharmaceuticals Industry and Procedures for Exporting Pharmaceuticals Products' and 'Contract Manufacturing from Bangladesh' respectively.
President of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industry (BAPI) SM Safiuzzaman Khokon and Secretary General of BAPI Nazmul Hasan were also present in the seminar.
The DCCI president, in his speech, said pharmaceuticals sector is one of the fast growing sectors of Bangladesh and has the opportunity to grow further under the provisions of the TRIPS Agreement of WTO.
He further said pharmaceuticals sector has a domestic market of about US$ 700 million, 97 per cent of which is met by local industries.
"Our local companies are now exporting medicines to 68 countries all over the world. In 2006-07, total export was $28.12 million with a growth rate of 47 per cent in the last fiscal year. But almost 85 per cent of the total required raw materials are imported,'' he said.
He also said: "Our projected total import is almost $300 million for the next three years.''
He said, the concerned trade bodies, BAPI and the government may work together to remove the impediments to the country's pharmaceuticals sector which particularly needs new investment for production of Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (API) for building export capacity and reduction of dependence on imported materials.
Nazmul Hasan spoke on investment and export opportunities in pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh. SM Shafiuzzaman Khokon informed the seminar that BAPI had already provided nearly 75,000 licences for opening pharmacy shops in the country. He also said there are nearly 200,000 pharmacy shops in Bangladesh out of which 75,000 are operating with valid licences.
He said the number of Pharmacy graduates in Bangladesh now stands at approximately 3000.
Among others, DCCI Vice-President Khandaker Shahidul Islam, DCCI past president ASM Quasem, other DCCI directors and participants were present in the seminar.