New group to help pharmaceutical

New group to help pharmaceutical

JAKARTA (JP): Five companies have established a consortium for the production of raw materials for pharmaceuticals which will help increase the efficiency of the country's pharmaceuticals manufacturers, an executive says.

The president of PT Indofarma, Gunawan Pranoto, said yesterday that the consortium had been established, in response to a call from Minister of Health Sujudi, by Indofarma, PT Kimia Farma, PT Kalbe Farma, the Gemala Group and PT Tempo.

Gunawan said the consortium was still considering which raw materials would be produced to meet the long-term targets of the Indonesian pharmaceuticals industry.

The consortium has also yet to decide on the technology to be employed.

"We wouldn't want technology which will quickly be outdated," he said. "The consortium's plant is expected to produce more than one type of raw material."

The plant, which is expected to require some Rp 10 billion (US$4.5 million) in initial investment, will be managed jointly by the five companies, he said.

Gunawan said the consortium was exploring the possibility of revamping the Gemala Group's pharmaceutical plant in Gresik, East Java, which used to produce pharmaceuticals under license from Bayer, Germany.

Indonesian pharmaceutical companies currently import most of their raw materials. Indofarma, for example, currently imports more than 80 percent of its raw materials from Japan, China, India and European countries.

Gunawan told reporters that Indofarma planned, this year, to start exporting its products to a number of countries, including Myanmar, Vietnam, Russia, Yemen and Sudan.

Kalbe Farma currently exports pharmaceuticals to several African and Southeast Asian countries. (pwn)