Indonesia imports over 90 percents of its pharmaceutical raw material needs

Indonesia still imports over 90% of the pharmaceutical raw materials it needs, showing that its dependence on overseas industries is very high, a pharmaceutical trader spokesman said. "And some 70% of the imported raw materials come from China," Kendrariadi Suhanda, deputy secretary general of the Indonesian Pharmacies Association (GPFI) told the press on the occasion of “Indo Medica Expo 2008” here on Thursday. He said Indonesia was predicted to become increasingly dependent on imports from China because the latter was continuously increasing the number of its raw material pharmaceutical industries and to improve the quality of their products. "European countries whose pharmaceutical industries are advanced have begun to establish alliances with Chinese pharmaceutical raw material industries," he said. He said Indonesia still lacked strong industries in the production of pharmaceutical raw materials. (http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/4/18/ri-imports-over-90-pct-of-its-pharmaceutical-raw-material-needs/