HAMDARD EYES MALAYSIAN MARKET

From P.Vijian

NEW DELHI, June 15 (Bernama) -- Hamdard (Wakf) Laboratories, a pioneer in
Unani medicine, has identified Malaysia as a potential market in South-East
Asia, to promote its healthcare products.

Its chief marketing officer, Arshad Siddiqui, said the century-old company,
which specialised in the anicent Unani method using natural herbal medicines and
treatment, aimed to promote over 600 natural and herbal products to new markets
in the region.

"We are looking into markets where we can introduce our entire portfolio and
where there is some recognition of Unani system of medicine. If these products
are registered in Singapore, Malaysia or Indonesia then access will be easier.

"(Besides) if you look at the pharmaceutical growth verses natural products
growth, there is a trend which it is moving towards natural medicine," he told
Bernama in an interview.

He said Malaysia the natural medicine industry was large.

Arshad said Hamdard has set a US$12.5 million (US$1=RM3.48) revenue target
for its international businesses in the next four to five years, and at least 75
percent were expected to be from South-East Asian markets.

He said plans were in the pipeline for the company to test the Malaysian
market in the last quarter of this year.

"We will set up a comprehensive sales and distribution network to distribute
the products in Malaysia.

"Health-conscious consumers will then have access to a range of Hamdard's
healthcare products from herbal tonic, multi-vitamin, skin care to herbal balm,"
he said.

The company, which registered US$75 million in revenue last year, aimed to
reach the US$125 million mark by next year, he said.

-- BERNAMA