Cabinet nod for India-Uzbekistan MoU on cooperation in pharma sector

New Delhi: The Cabinet Wednesday approved a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed between India and Uzbekistan to increase cooperation in the areas of trade, industry, and research and development of pharmaceutical products. The Cabinet also gave it nod to another MoU between India and Uzbekistan for the establishment of the Uzbek-Indian free pharmaceutical zone in the Andijan region of Uzbekistan.

The MoUs will be signed during the visit of President of Uzbekistan to India on October 1, 2018, an official statement said.

In view of the importance of the growth of the pharma industry in both countries and importance of mutual cooperation in trade, production,research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, both governments have been trying to establish a formal mechanism of bilateral cooperation, it added.

The MoU will explore the possibilities for the production of medicines, including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in different therapeutic segments in both countries, the statement said.

"It will also exchange information on trade and registration procedures, legal and regulatory requirements for export and import of pharmaceuticals products, including APIs," it added.

The MoU will increase cooperation with Uzbekistan in the areas of trade, industry and research and development of pharma products, the statement said.

The MoU will facilitate Indian pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies to invest in and establish production facilities in the Uzbek-Indian free pharma zone for manufacture of pharmaceutical products, a separate release said.