India pharma industry broke monopoly on life-saving drugs: Sharma

"The arrival of Indian generics became a very emotive and moral issue. In the late 1990's this battle was here in South Africa and the Indian generics broke the stranglehold of multi-lateral parties by ensuring that life-saving medicines were made available and acceptable to the poor people in our country, on the African continent and in South America at very affordable prices," Sharma said.

Sharma was speaking at a media conference on the periphery of the India Show here, which has brought together nearly sixty exhibitors seeking to make an entry into Africa using South Africa as a gateway.

Sharma assured delegates that cooperation by India in this regard would continue. With Indian pharmaceutical companies increasingly setting up base in South Africa, South African Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies said he would help facilitate an initiative by an Indian pharmaceutical company that would pump USD 100 million into the South African economy.