The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), is planning to establish a warehousing facility in Nigeria to support Indian exporters in Africa.

With an aim to assist Indian pharma exporters who are facing problems with regard to safe storage and distribution of pharmaceutical products to African countries, Pharmexcil with the support of ministry of commerce government of India has proposed to open a warehouse facility in the city of Lagos in Nigeria.

The Council had come out with the proposal to establish the warehousing facility in Nigeria, as the existing facilities are not up to the international standards and provide no fool proof security. Though warehouse practices are generally good, but majority of them exhibit poor storage conditions.

Moreover stock management is done manually and does not track batch numbers and expiry dates on bin cards. In addition, no safety equipment or stock reports are in place. Though most of the warehouses employ dedicated security personnel for receiving and dispatch but has no segregated areas for those activities. Other disadvantages are no alarms, no security cameras, or other security measures are in place, and the role of security personnel is limited.

In view of this, Pharmexcil with the support ministry of commerce government of India and with the consent of members of pharma exporters to the African countries, has proposed to set up a warehouse that would not only help Indian exporters to store their stocks securely but can also use it as a storage point from where the exporters can distribute their products to other neighbouring countries. “Pharmexcil with the support of Ministry of Commerce is soon planning to establish a warehousing facility in Nigeria. This will assist our members who are exporting to Nigeria,” informed Raghuveer Kini, executive director, Pharmexcil.

Initially the Council is proposing to hire a National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) approved premises which is ideally located in the commercial city of Lagos, with advanced security provisions, power back up facility etc.

Pharmexcil is also proposing for internal logistics through approved agencies and with the financial assistance under MAI scheme, the exporting members can avail the storage facility with highly subsidized rentals.

“As we understand that bonded warehousing system is not prevailing in Nigeria, Pharmexcil's warehousing facility would be a post customs clearance facility. Moreover Nigeria being a pharma hub for neighbouring countries, warehousing facility in Nigeria would help members to cater to other nearby countries also,” informed Kini.