Medicine exports witness impressive jump in '10
Friday, 28 May 2010
Monira Munni
The country's medicine exports witnessed an impressive jump in 2010 as manufacturers pursued an aggressive marketing, industry people said.
Shipments of pharmaceutical products grew 14 per cent to US$35.40 million during July- April period of fiscal 2009-10 over $31.22 million earned in the same period of last financial year, according to Export Promotion Bureau data.
The overseas sales stood at $45.67 million in the last fiscal that ended in June 2009.
There had been a surge in order from Western buyers following an aggressive marketing policy pursued by the local pharmaceuticals, Abdul Muktadir, general secretary of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industries (BAPI) said.
"Now, we are getting more and more orders as the situation is improving worldwide following an economic meltdown," he said.
He said the exports slumped in 2009 initially due to fall in demand from many importing countries that were hit hard by the recession. "But we have strongly come back and the order is increasing," he told the FE.
Many African and South American countries, major buyers of Bangladesh drugs, also faced currency devaluation, he said "But currently they have come back and started importing medicines again."
Mr Muktadir, also the managing director of the country's third largest drug manufacturer Incepta Pharmaceuticals, said Bangladesh's reputation as world-class drug producing country has also helped regain the market.
Abdus Sabur Khan, organising secretary of BAPI also echoed the same sentiment saying locally manufactured medicines are of high quality as the manufacturers maintain the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).
GMP is part of a quality system covering the manufacture and testing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, diagnostics, foods, pharmaceutical products, and medical devices, he said.
The country's pharmaceutical companies, including Incepta, Beximco, Renata, Eskayef and Square, have recently obtained quality certificates from European countries, industry people said.
"Registration of some of our local products has also started. But it may take at least 3 years for all the products," they said.
Mr Muktadir forecasts a significant growth in drug export over next two to three years with functioning of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Park.
"The export is increasing significantly. During this fiscal year, we have seen a significant jump in shipment. We hope this trend will continue in the coming days," he said.
The country's medicine exports witnessed an impressive jump in 2010 as manufacturers pursued an aggressive marketing, industry people said.
Shipments of pharmaceutical products grew 14 per cent to US$35.40 million during July- April period of fiscal 2009-10 over $31.22 million earned in the same period of last financial year, according to Export Promotion Bureau data.
The overseas sales stood at $45.67 million in the last fiscal that ended in June 2009.
There had been a surge in order from Western buyers following an aggressive marketing policy pursued by the local pharmaceuticals, Abdul Muktadir, general secretary of Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industries (BAPI) said.
"Now, we are getting more and more orders as the situation is improving worldwide following an economic meltdown," he said.
He said the exports slumped in 2009 initially due to fall in demand from many importing countries that were hit hard by the recession. "But we have strongly come back and the order is increasing," he told the FE.
Many African and South American countries, major buyers of Bangladesh drugs, also faced currency devaluation, he said "But currently they have come back and started importing medicines again."
Mr Muktadir, also the managing director of the country's third largest drug manufacturer Incepta Pharmaceuticals, said Bangladesh's reputation as world-class drug producing country has also helped regain the market.
Abdus Sabur Khan, organising secretary of BAPI also echoed the same sentiment saying locally manufactured medicines are of high quality as the manufacturers maintain the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice).
GMP is part of a quality system covering the manufacture and testing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, diagnostics, foods, pharmaceutical products, and medical devices, he said.
The country's pharmaceutical companies, including Incepta, Beximco, Renata, Eskayef and Square, have recently obtained quality certificates from European countries, industry people said.
"Registration of some of our local products has also started. But it may take at least 3 years for all the products," they said.
Mr Muktadir forecasts a significant growth in drug export over next two to three years with functioning of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Park.
"The export is increasing significantly. During this fiscal year, we have seen a significant jump in shipment. We hope this trend will continue in the coming days," he said.