In the wake of low performance of export and import from the Mormugao port, the Goa Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (GPMA) will be meeting the chairman, Cyril C George of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) this month, to discuss and strategise possible ways to boost the export activities.

Experts have noticed that in spite of being a CDSCO notified port, there has been a lukewarm response from the industry to utilise the port for their export activities.

As of now only three pharma companies having units in Goa namely Indoco, Sanofi and Zydus Cadila currently utilize the port to export their products. Industry sources claim that one of the major impending factors that is discouraging the companies from utilizing the port is poor logistics.

In 2011, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) had approved Goa as a recognised port for import and export of drugs under Rule 43 A of the Drugs and Cosmetics (D&C) Rules. This made Goa's Mormugao Port as one amongst the seven notified ports in the country apart from Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai, Cochin, Nhava Sheva and Kandla ports for the pharma exports and imports.

A source informed that there is huge logistical challenge associated with moving their products from MPT, as it is more complicated for them in the current scenario with lack of direct international freight from Goa's MPT. Especially since most of the companies have their units in different locations, which already have other notified ports near by. The industry members state that considering the ease of exporting from the other ports, the companies prefer them over MPT, in spite of it being relatively costly.

There is an urgent need to find a plausible solution to address this matter, as it is with this aim that GPMA is seeking a meeting with the MPT. "We have a huge benefit of having a centrally notified port within the state, which unfortunately have seen no further improvement in export activities. We fear that if we do not catch up and improve the performance soon, the Centre may even cancel the notification citing unsatisfied and lack of export activities. All this further adds up to hasten our process to sensitise the industry to utilize this port, as well as to find solution like enhance proper transportation facilities and other logistical needs to pick up the export activities," informed Suresh Kamath, president of GPMA.