Malaysia A Promising Market , Says Indian Pharmaceutical Equipment Suppliers

By Manik Mehta NEW YORK, March 25 (Bernama) -- A section of the Indian exhibitors at the just-concluded International Pharmaceutical Expo (INTERPHEX) here described Malaysia, in particular, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)in general, as a 'promising market'. INTERPHEX, touted as a showcase of “science through globalisation”, has emerged as a premier event for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, device development and manufacturing industries, and has attracted Indian exhibitors involved in the supply of pharmaceutical machines and equipment. One of the participants was Praj Hi-Purity Systems, a Mumbai-based associate company of the Praj group of companies. It supplies water-purification system for the pharma industry and specialises in process solutions for liquid pharmaceuticals, sterile and non-sterile products, bio-pharma, including bioreactors. Miher Mehta, its Associate Vice-President, said the company did turnkey water system for Malaysia’s pharmaceutical companies. "Though Malaysia is a promising market, we notice some slowdown in business, presumably because of declining oil revenues. "But the Malaysian Government, which is diversifying the economy is also keen to promote its own pharmaceutical industry," he said in an interview with Bernama. He said this was also reflected in the proliferating number of courses offered in pharmacy studies at various universities in Malaysia. Jitendra Chaudhary, Vice President (Sales/Marketing) of Karnavati Engineering Ltd, based in Kadi, Mehsana in Gujarat state, said his company has been supplying requisites for laboratory such as testing equipment to Malaysia, Indonesia and other ASEAN countries. But he also pointed out that Indian companies, which were constrained by rising prices, found it difficult to compete in Malaysia and Vietnam against Chinese companies which had the advantage of lower prices. Karnavati’s major products also include tools, machinery for capsules and tablets, etc. Besides Malaysia and Indonesia, Karnavati also supplies to the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea and Taiwan. Another company, Mumbai-based TSA Process Equipment Private Ltd, supplies water-treatment plants for the pharmaceutical and beverage industries. Its Managing Director, Apurva Shah, said the company specialised in processing of tablets and capsules and 20 per cent of its revenue was derived from exports while the rest 80 per cent came from India. “We have done job in Malaysia for a company called Zontron Sdn Bhd of Penang. My team installed the equipment for Zontron. We handled two projects for Zontron. "Malaysia is certainly an interesting market for us. The company is transiting from a developing to a developed market,” Shah said. INTERPHEX attracted 52 Indian companies, of which 42 were participating for the first time. Pankaj Patel, President of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman/Managing Director of Zydus Cadila - Cadila Healthcare Ltd, said the Indian pharmaceutical industry has gained significant traction in the last few years. "It is currently on a high growth trajectory and rapidly integrating with the global industry. "We have large number of companies participating from the state of Gujarat, which has emerged as India’s pharmaceutical equipment manufacturing hub," he said. -- BERNAMA