INDIAN pharmaceutical manufacturers are seeking to register more drugs and expand their interests in the Myanmar market, officials from Myanmar Pharma-ceuticals and Medical Equipments Entrepreneurs’ Association said last week.
Association president Dr Win Si Thu said the recent India-ASEAN Pharma-ceutical meeting was an important step in developing pharmaceutical trade between the countries.

“At the meeting, [importers] met with potential suppliers from India like exporters and manufacturers,” said Dr Win Si Thu. “The majority of these companies have never traded in Myanmar and their products have not been seen here.

“Only a minority – about eight companies – have previously registered products with the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA).” More than 70 Indian pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturers and suppliers have since shown significant interest in launching their products in Myanmar, he said. “As a result of one-on-one discussions, our members are now doing deals with new suppliers for further business,” Dr Win Si Thu told The Myanmar Times.

India is already a major supplier of pharmaceuticals to Myanmar. According to Customs Department statistics, pharmaceutical imports totalled US$112 million in 2007, about 35 percent of which were imported from India.

He said importers would not be the only ones to benefit from the meeting – the increased competition would help to keep prices low for the consumer.

“If there are more drugs and brands in the marketplace there will be competition among the importers and distributors. This will mean no one can monopolise the market and the price of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment will be kept under control,” Dr Win Si Thu said.