THE Dubai government has invited Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers to invest in production facilities in the emirate. An official met with Sanjay Verma, the consul general of India in Dubai, to discuss a strategy for Indian involvement in the local biotech sector.

Marwan Abdulaziz, executive director of DuBiotech, a free zone dedicated to facilitating and fostering the growth of the life sciences industry in the UAE, said strengthening DuBiotech’s partnership with India is an integral part of the organisation’s strategy to build and stimulate the UAE’s lifescience industry.

DuBiotech is a member of world-class developer and operator of business parks Tecom Investments.

The GCC countries have the highest levels of imported medicines in the world and the UAE alone imports 80 per cent of the drugs consumed by its population from international markets. Importing such high levels of medication leaves the UAE vulnerable to price increases as a result of currency fluctuations and supply regularity issues.

Major Indian companies already based at DuBiotech include a blend of biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms such as Sun Pharma, Epygen, Wockhardt, Lupin, Life Cell and NeoBiocon, a joint venture company between UAE-based Neopharma and the Indian biotech innovator Biocon.

In 2012, DuBiotech witnessed exceptional growth, issuing 40 commercial licences against 21 in 2011. Life sciences firms at DuBiotech include such brands as Pfizer, Genzyme, Merck-Serono, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Maquet, National Reference Lab, Firmenich and IFF.