Experts for economic diplomacy to get TRIPs transition period extended

Bangladesh may face difficulties in extension of the special TRIPs transitional period for producing pharmaceuticals unless there is strong economic diplomacy after expiry of the current time in the year 2015, industry insiders said.
According to sources, the general transitional period for manufacturing different products in 50 least developed countries (LDCs) has already been extended until 2021.
But the special transitional period for producing pharmaceuticals currently being enjoyed by the LDC members in general and by Bangladesh in particular is yet to be extended although it has the strongest medicine manufacturing base.
Speaking on the issue former president of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) Md Shafiuzzaman said, "As we alone cannot lobby with the WTO, so we need to increased efforts from now on in coordination with other member countries."
An official in the WTO cell under the ministry of commerce (MoC) said as extension of time for manufacturing pharmaceuticals by Bangladesh is more important than other countries, so the government has planned to work with other group members.
He said Uganda is the coordinating country of the LDC members and Bangladesh can work with them.
He said it is inevitable that the WTO would extend time as the general transitional time has already been extended.
But another source in a pharmaceutical company said it is not easy for Bangladesh to do so as the officials say.
He said among all the LDC members only Bangladesh cannot plead for time extension as other members may not feel such pressure for they do not have pharmaceutical manufacturing bases.
He said time is now ripe for giving efforts by the officials with enhanced economic diplomacy.
The former BAPI president suggested strong economic diplomacy for its own interest of extending time.
Another official at the MoC said a meeting was held last week in the ministry's WTO cell for coordinated efforts among stakeholders and other ministries in getting the time extended.
He said the LDC members have little time for extension of special transitional period as there will be no royalty for manufacturing patented drugs.
Currently Bangladesh is manufacturing more than 1,300 generic drugs including patented drugs of the inventing companies through reverse engineering.
If Bangladesh or the LDC group fails to extend the special transitional period for pharmaceuticals, then Bangladesh will have either to stop manufacturing patented drugs or pay royalty for those.
If the period cannot be extended, Bangladesh would be the worst affected country as it is the only pharmaceuticals manufacturing nation.
Dr Momenul Haq, another BAPI office-bearer, said before expiry of the time, economic diplomacy should be strengthened.
He said as the MoC is responsible for such lobbying, so it can work in coordination with the stakeholders and experts.
Mr Haq said all the LDCs may not be encouraged for extension of the special transitional period as they do not require so; thus there is a challenge for the Bangladeshi officials in the WTO.