RPINDIA ARCHIVE
PGMA invites India pharmaceutical firms to make RP base of export operations
MUMBAI, India -– President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
on Thursday invited India’s pharmaceutical companies
to make the Philippines their main base of operations in Southeast
Asia.
In her speech before the Confederation of Indian Industries
at the ballroom of the Taj Mahal Hotel this afternoon, the
President said the Philippines is strategically located as
a base of their export operations to Northeast Asia, Australia
and New Zealand.
She said that only two days ago, the Quality Affordable Medicines
Act was approved by the Philippine Senate on second reading
and the House of Representatives is expected to follow suit
soon.
"The final passage of the Quality Affordable Medicines
Act will be a major milestone in our administration's efforts
to promote better health and longer productive lives for our
people," the President said.
She thanked the senators for their speedy action on the bill
as she called on the House to approve the measure.
"The people have waited far too long for this measure
to be enacted," she said.
The government said the enactment of the Quality Affordable
Medicines Act will promote better health, particularly among
the marginalized Filipinos.
When enacted into law, the President said the measure would
provide the legal framework to allow the production of cheaper
medicines in the Philippines instead of sourcing them from
abroad.
"We share this good news with the Indian business community
to encourage your pharmaceutical companies to set up production
facilities in the Philippines so that you can keep your market,"
she said.
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