In order to build up the bulk drug capabilities within the country, the Bangladesh government in cooperation with the local industry is planning to set up an exclusive API (active pharma ingredients) Park at Chitagong. The API Park will be built with a UNIDO aid, and the infrastructure development will start soon at the already identified location, said S M Shafiuzzaman, president, Bangaladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI) and director, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).

The common bulk drug manufacturing project is being planned by the government is in the wake of an imminent threat of non availability of new generation APIs from the neighboring countries like India and China these countries going to be complied with TRIPS. Currently, Bangladesh is almost fully dependent on these two countries for sourcing APIs.

Speaking to Pharmabiz at the14th CPhI Worldwide at Frankfurt, the BAPI president said that the API Park project was initiated by the government of Bangladesh in response to a proposal submitted by the industry association. "Realizing the threat of India and China entering patent regime in the near future, and thereby emerging a situation that the Bangladesh pharmaceutical industry can no more depend on these countries for the API requirements, BAPI has been pressurizing the government to help the industry to build up its own capability in the API manufacturing," he said

The proposed park is on a 300-acre land, in which 50 plots will be created. The investment in the park is open to the local as well as foreign companies and individual entrepreneurs who have solid experience in API manufacturing, Shaffiuzzaman said. Both the local and the foreign investors in the park will be eligible to get the government industry incentives that are being worked out by the government, it is learnt.

It is learnt that quite a few Indian bulk drug companies are keenly interested in putting units in the park as they find the market attractive and also the other LDC markets that can be accessed through Bangladesh till 2016.