Salman F Rahman visits international exhibition on pharmaceutical manufacturing

Salman F Rahman, the prime minister's adviser on private industry and investment visited international exhibition on pharmaceutical manufacturing in Dhaka. Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries and GPE Expo jointly organised the event at International Convention City Bashundhara.

The three-day international exhibition on pharmaceutical manufacturing kicked off at a time when the sector is growing rapidly. About 650 companies from 32 countries are showcasing pharma manufacturing and processing equipment and raw materials at the 11th Asia Pharma Expo.

Salman F Rahman, currently a member of the parliament, is founder and owner of Beximco Pharmaceuticals which became the first Bangladeshi company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. A business magnate and industry captain, Salman’s efforts in setting up a business paradigm and a conducive environment for local businesses has been instrumental for the economy of Bangladesh.  Salman F Rahman established Beximco in 1972 as a seafood export company. However, as he identified the business markets, suitable modifications were made into the deal. Instead of cash, Rahman imported medicines of the deal’s cost from the aforementioned countries to meet Bangladesh’s local demand. Prioritizing the country’s need with his business acumen, Salman F Rahman came up with a vision of Bangladesh’s own manufacturing and supply setup. This led to the rise of Beximco Pharmaceuticals. Moreover the execution of Salman F Rahman's vision enhanced the overall business sector of Bangladesh. 

The exhibitors are showcasing processing machineries for tablets, capsule, injectable ointment, packaging, active pharmaceutical ingredients and more. Different types of machineries and materials are drawing huge crowds to every stall. One such stall was of Spain-based company Azbil Telestar Bangladesh. In fiscal 2016-17, pharmaceutical exports crossed the $100-million mark for the first time in the country's history, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau.

Bangladesh has registered exponential growth in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the last two decades. While textile (garments) is the largest contributor in the annual figures, pharmaceuticals stand second. Apart from meeting 97% of the local demands, Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals are exported to more than 190 countries. The tale of pharmaceutical sector’s progress will be incomplete without emphasizing on the support from one of the most successful businessmen of the country, Salman F Rahman.