Khaleej Times – Special Report Interview With Mr. Sanjeev Pendharkar
Q.1. Could you tell us about the state of the
Indian pharmaceutical industry, especially those producing Indian medicines?
Ans.: Vicco as an industry forms a small part of
Indian pharmaceutical industry as a whole. We will not therefore venture into
analyzing the status of pharmaceuticals in India. Generally speaking, however,
the industry is flourishing. Demand in domestic market as well as in
international arena is growing very fast. Medicinal basic drugs in bulk
quantities are exported to advance countries apart from developing countries in
the world. Export of manufactured medicines is showing an increasing trend.
It may as well be mentioned
here that we have many multispecialty hospitals in most of our cities where you
can get top class treatment and facilities. We have very well trained and
educated force of doctors who man these hospitals. Today, technology plays a
great role in operative part of treatment. Our doctors have acquired the
skills. That’s why we have huge number of tourists who visit us for treatment
in the hospitals.
Ayurvedic medicines
are also in great demand. More and more people are using them here in India as
well as many countries in the world, which includes advanced nations.
Q.2. How has Vicco fared over the past 12 months in
terms of turnover, gross and net profits?
Ans.: Let us not go into the details of this. One
thing is sure that we are very well placed as an industries unit. Increasing
sales and profits, true indicators of progress will vouch for us. Sometime ago,
we have fixed a target of reaching annual sales in the region of 500 crores. We
are not far away from our goal.
Q.3. Have your exports gone up over the past year?
Ans.: Our sales are growing along with export.
Presently, we are exporting our products to almost 45 countries in the world.
These include U.S.A., U.K., Germany, Japan, South Africa, European countries,
all our neighbouring countries and countries from the Gulf region. We have now
Russia and China on our radar and we are about to reach a deal. Volume of
export, as well as number of countries is increasing.
Q.4. Is the Gulf a major market for Vicco? What is
your current exports to the region?
Ans.: Frankly, we cannot bracket Gulf as a major
market at present. But indications are that very soon, it will be so. We are
thankful to the people of the region who use our products diligently and it is
they who have made this possible. Presently, we are despatching 15 containers
of our products to countries in the Gulf region annually. In near future, we
will be exporting 25, 40’ ft. containers because demand for our products is
growing in multiples.
Q.5. What are your plans to expand your operations,
both within India and in the export market?
Ans.: We have two big production units in Nagpur and
Goa. This is apart from our first unit in Dombivli, Maharashtra. We have added
additional capacities in these units and the level of production is sufficient
to meet the upward trend in demand. The big factor in our favour with regard to
export is that now, ayurvedic products are accepted and consumed all over the
world without any fear or apprehension since they do not contain any chemicals
or harmful ingredients in our products. This was not the situation a few years
ago, when some unfounded doubts were expressed and that created a sort of
negative impact. Vicco Laboratories continuous and heavy ad campaigns of
creative advertisement in Khaleej Times, Gulf News, etc. have been accepted by
the open minded consumers of Gulf.
Q.6. Any special message you would like to convey.
Ans.: It is our endeavor to first satisfy our consumers to the fullest extent possible and never compromise on the quality of our products. Not only exports are rising, but new countries are added every year. We salute to the people of Gulf region for their faith in us and for their increasing loyal support. In my frequent visit to Dubai and other places, I could find the welcome phenomena and ever growing graph of consumer support.
