The Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) and National Chamber of Drug Industries of Tunisia (CNIP) has signed an MoU for increasing trade collaborations, facilitating joint ventures and various promotional activities between the two countries in the drugs and pharmaceuticals sector. The MoU was signed during the second meeting of India-Tunisia Joint Working Group on Drugs and Pharmaceuticals held in Tunisia recently.

A high level delegation from India led by Pratyush Sinha, secretary, Chemicals and Petrochemicals visited Tunisia to attend the Second Meeting of the India - Tunisia Joint Working Group on Drugs and Pharmaceuticals under the aegis of India - Tunisian Joint Commission. The meeting also decided that Pharmexcil in association with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals would organize a Focus Africa (Summit on Africa) on pharmaceuticals in the month of January 2006 in Mumbai. This Summit would be spread over four days and would showcase progress made by India in pharma industry.

The major issues discussed in the Working Group Meeting pertain to supply of Active Pharmaceuticals Ingredients (APIs) and formulations from India to Tunisia. Both sides expressed the desire to increase the quantum of exports. Tunisian market is worth about US$ 400 million and the Indian exports to Tunisia are presently only about US$ 1.5 million. The Tunisian Government assured full cooperation and assistance to the companies that would like to work in Tunisia. The Tunisian Government desired that joint ventures should be set up between Indian and Tunisian companies. The Tunisian Government also expressed a keen desire to import vaccines from India.

The issue of training of drug regulators of Tunisia in NIPER was also discussed. The Indian team explained the availability of opportunities under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme started by India for the developing countries. Indian side also offered testing facilities at NIPER, which could be utilized by the Tunisian companies for importing Indian drugs.

On the way to Tunisia, the delegation had a brief strop-over at Frankfurt. India is proposing Germany to be the focus country during the forthcoming 'India- Chem 2006'- an International Exhibition and Seminar on Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Industry to be held in Mumbai in November 2006. It is being organized by FICCI in association with the Government of India.

The 3rd meeting of India - Tunisia Joint Working Group would be held in January 2006.