Private investors in Singapore and Japan are keen to invest in upcoming SEZs of India including that of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. Since January 2006, various Singaporean companies and investors have started looking at increased trade relations with their Indian counterparts, according to Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State, Ministry of Manpower, Singapore.

An infrastructure services business delegation from Singapore has visited India during August 21-25, 2006. The delegation met entrepreneurs from industries in Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai. An economic cooperation agreement was signed between India and Singapore two years ago, which has triggered increase in trade activities between the two countries.

Some Indian companies have already established partnerships with Singapore based companies in the past. For instance, the Hyderabad-based Ramky Group tied up with Sembcorp Industries' environmental management wing for medical waste management.

Singapore has also laid thrust on R&D with a national budget of five billion Singaporean dollars with focus on three major areas including biomedical sciences, which opens abundant opportunities for Indian companies looking at collaborations with Singapore in this field.

Sumihito Hirai, managing director, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), Singapore Representative Office, told Pharmabiz that Japan and Singapore are in the process of improving their trade relations with India in wide areas. India and Japan have a key role to play in the generic drugs front. Some of the Japanese pharma companies are evaluating plans to set up manufacturing and R&D facilities in India.

Eisai is planning to set up a new manufacturing unit and R&D facility in India, which will be Japan's first pharmaceutical company to put up such base in the country, Hirai added.