Indian's Ranbaxy inaugurates new $30 million drug manufacturing facility in South Africa

India's largest drugmaker, Ranbaxy Laboratories (which is 64% owned by Japanese drug major Daiichi Sanko), has announced the opening of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Be-Tabs Pharmaceuticals Manufacturing Plant, at Roodepoort, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The new facility, built with an investment of $30 million, will manufacture analgesics, cold, cough and flu preparations, anti-histamines, anti-hypertensives, central nervous system drugs, vitamins and minerals, as well as a comprehensive range of over-the-counter medicines. The products manufactured will comprise tablets and hard gelatin capsules that will be supplied to current registered regions. This will be Ranbaxy's second manufacturing facility in South Africa and the third in the African continent.

On the inauguration of the new manufacturing plant, Arun Sawhney, managing director of Ranbaxy, said: 'Ranbaxy has a long standing relationship with Africa. We were the first Indian pharmaceutical company to set up a manufacturing facility in Nigeria, in the late 70s. 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.'