Tuesday 30 July 2013

FIPB approves 6 pharma proposals worth Rs 855 cr

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) has cleared six proposals envisaging investments of Rs 855 crore in the pharmaceutical sector. The main proposal approved by FIPB, chaired by Department of Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram include Singapore based healthcare firm Fresenius Kabi Oncology to bring in FDI worth Rs 349 crore and Calyx Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals to bring in foreign investment of Rs 200 crore.

India is one of the world's biggest markets for generic drugs and allows 100 percent FDI through automatic route in pharma for new projects and as for existing firms it must be approved by the FIPB. Last year, the government had decided that all foreign investments in existing domestic pharma firms should be allowed only after clearance by the FIPB, keeping in view the availability of affordable essential drugs in the wake of multinationals acquiring local companies.

Further, the government was of the view that pharma is a growing industry and there is a need to protect the domestic players from multinationals particularly generics so that Indian pharmaceutical industry continue to grow. There are too many pharma proposals pending with the FIPB as several global pharma companies are looking to buy stake in Indian firms. Meanwhile, the government is likely to soon revise the FDI policy with regard to existing pharma companies.

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