Pharmaceutical company One Pharma is trying to increase its participation in export market and working with the goal of exporting drugs to 10 new countries, including Africa, in the next three years.
The company is currently exporting to three countries and expanding exports to new market covering several countries. It plans to make renewed investment of Tk 500 crore to increase production capacity.
One Pharma Chairman Nazmun Nahar said it at a press conference in the company premises in Bagura on Wednesday. She said, "We have been able to offer import substitute locally produced drugs in the market.
"It is saving foreign exchange. Instead of importing, our company is able to produce drugs in the country and offer them at lower price. There are plans to increase the production of such drugs in the coming days."
He also said, "We are now launching good quality drugs by installing new technology and modern equipment. In the coming days, we want to compete with the drugs of good companies and offer drugs in the market at a lower price."
One Pharma Chairman said, "Our Company is setting up a plant to produce biotech drugs for cancer. Some equipment has been installed. More equipment is coming. Installing, it will be possible to offer domestically produced cancer drugs in the market. Cancer drugs are now quite expensive."
Sources said the Company is expanding its business to increase export of medicines. For this, it has planned to make an investment of about Tk 500 crore. A large part of it is being already invested in the production of cancer medicines.
The sources said in 2015, the company started its journey in the BSCIC Industrial City of Bogura. Currently, 200 workers are working in this plant. The company is now producing more than a hundred generic medicines.
Ishtiaq Ahmed, Chief Operating Officer of One Pharma, said Algeria has expressed interest in buying the company's medicines. Initial discussions have been held in this regard.
Now procedural issues are being finalized. Once this is completed, exports will be possible. Apart from this, the export market of medicines can be increased to various other underdeveloped countries including Africa, he said.
