Ranbaxy sets up new manufacturing facility in South Africa

Pharmaceuticals major Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited today announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in South Africa, its second in that country and the third in the African continent.

The Be-Tabs Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Plant has been set up by Ranbaxy S.A. (Pty) Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy, at Roodepoort in Johannesburg.

It was inaugurated today by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, who is on a visit to South Africa. Mr Virendra Gupta, Indian High Commissioner to South Africa, and representatives from the South African Department of Trade and Industry, were present on the occasion, a press release from the company said.

Mr Arun Sawhney, Managing Director of Ranbaxy Laboratories, said the company had a long-standing relationship with Africa, having been the first Indian pharmaceutical firm to set up a manufacturing facility in Nigeria in the late 1970s.

"Over the years, we have established a strong presence in 43 of the 54 African countries with the aim of providing quality medicines and improving access. The opening of this new manufacturing facility further emphasizes our commitment towards the African continent and South Africa in particular," he said.

The new facility, built with an investment of $30 million, will manufacture analgesics, cold, cough and flu preparations, anti-histamines, anti-hypertensives, CNS drugs, vitamins and minerals as well as a comprehensive range of over-the-counter medication. The products manufactured will comprise tablets and hard gelatin capsules that will be supplied to current registered regions.

The design of the new facility is determined by the current tablet and capsule production requirements and the plant is capable of producing approximately 1.75 billion units and packaging of 2 billion units, annually. Possible expansion could bring about the addition of new products, the release said.

"The capacity to manufacture locally will meet the South African government’s intention to strengthen the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry and is expected to further the company’s aim of becoming a more significant provider of pharmaceuticals to the State," Dr Saxen van Coller, CEO, Ranbaxy S.A., added.

Ranbaxy is a member of Japan's Daiichi Sankyo Group, a leading global pharma innovator.

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