A delegation of international dealers in pharmaceutical products from Pakistan is in the country to assess the viability of the local market. The three-man-delegation led by Muhammad Saeed Akhtar, the president of Pakistanian International Trade Initiative visited the Private Sector Federation (PSF).They promised to venture in distribution of a wide-range of their medicinal products and equipment in the country, and latter go in for a fully fledged pharmaceutical industry, but hastened to add: “but only if it makes economic sense,” said Dr. Abdullah Qureshi. Qureshi, who is part of a three-man delegation, is the chief executive of Technovision Pharmaceuticals. Anser Qayum, the director of Libra (Private) Limited, also an international pharmaceutical firm, is part of the delegation. “We provide all sorts of medical products at competitive rates and of good quality,” Qureshi said. He promised that they won’t be life-time importers to Rwanda, saying: “We are looking at massively venturing in distribution of our products while we study the market. We shall then go in for manufacturing with an aim of transferring sophiscated technologies and providing employment to Rwandans.”They were briefed by director of trade and regional integration Mr. John Bosco Kalisa details about doing business in Rwanda regarding regulation, registration and underlying incentives. Kalisa proposed to the Pakistanians to also venture into horticulture, coffee, tea, minerals and art crafts. “Our government is so committed to quality foreign direct investments (FDIs). We do not need “fly by night” investors,” he told the prospective investors. Kalisa said that according to COMESA rules of origin, if the products are not composed of 35 per cent raw materials locally generated they will not benefit from free movement in the trade bloc. He also advised them may need to cross-check with other countries for requirements to import medicines, for unlike other commodities, they are sensitive.Ends
