The Republic of Botswana is seeking investments from Indian pharmaceuticals industry. India and Botswana have been witnessing a steady growth in trade and services between the two countries. A trade agreement was signed between the two countries in January 2001. India is now negotiating a preferential trade agreement with Southern African Customs Union (SACU) of which Botswana is a member.

Festus Gontebanye Mogae, the president of Botswana, accompanied by top Government officials, is expecting to meet the entrepreneurs and top executives of Indian pharmaceutical companies willing to invest in Botswana, at Mumbai on December 12. Pharmexcil is arranging one-on-one meetings for interested investors with the visiting high level Government delegation.

For 2005-2006, the Ministry of Health of Botswana has been allocated the third largest budget of about Pula (Botswana's currency) 606 million. Infrastructural development and up gradation of health facilities accounted for the bulk of the budget.

Botswana imports both the raw materials and pharmaceutical medicaments, which also include retail level doses and packaging, products directly distributed to pharmacies for private consumption as well as quantities for commercial repackaging and institutional uses.

Botswana imports mixed medicaments for prophylactic and therapeutic uses from South Africa, India, the United States of America, Canada, Malaysia, Italy, Zimbabwe and Germany.

In Botswana, vaccines (veterinary and human) are purchased mainly by the Public Sector and administered by public health institutions to individual patients. Vaccines are largely imported. Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) produces vaccines for Foot and Mouth diseases in cattle and exports to the entire region. BVI is the only drug production facility that manufactures and exports any type of medication from Botswana.

Regulation of the import, export and manufacture of drugs is undertaken in Botswana by the Drug Regulatory Unit (DRU) whose mandate is to implement the provisions of the Drugs and Related Substances Act, 1992 (Drugs Act) which forms the legislative framework of the National Drug Policy.

Opportunities exist for repackaging of pharmaceuticals and manufacturing of drugs and formation of joint ventures for these activities. All drugs to be imported into or exported from Botswana, manufactured, distributed or sold should be registered with the director of Health Services.