With the intention to find out potential exporters and to generate more export opportunities for the pharmaceutical manufacturers in Karnataka, the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is intending to open its fifth branch office in Bengaluru in the first week of August this year.

For this Pharmexcil will shortly sign an MoU with the Karnataka Drugs Manufacturers Association (KDMA). Discussions are also going on with the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), Government of India, for final approval.

In principle, the board of directors of the Council has unanimously decided to open the branch office in Bengaluru, but clearance from MoC has to be received for official opening. Chairman of Pharmexcil, Dr Ashutosh Gupta will formally inaugurate the office in Bengaluru, said Dr PV Appaji, director general of the export promotion council.

According to him, the Bengaluru office will be the fifth branch office of Pharmexcil. Presently, the Council has offices in Hyderabad (HO), Mumbai, Ahmadabad, New Delhi and in Chennai.

The branch office will associate with the local chapter of the IDMA and for the initial 12 months it will function at the office of the KDMA. The aim of the Council is to extend services to all exporters from Karnataka by providing assistance to the existing and other potential exporters. Those who have adequate experience in domestic pharma marketing and good manufacturing facility can enter into export business. Emerging markets like ASEAN, Africa and other suggested markets are the potential areas for the new entrants.