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sector expand and supply quality medicines both at home and abroad.

He said the prime minister has pledged continued policy support, describing the sector as a highly promising export industry not only for medicines but also for vaccines, active pharmaceutical ingredients and biological products.

“We are expecting good days ahead for the medicine sector,” Muktadir added.

He said the government would also help remove barriers to medicine exports. “The prime minister assured that the government will extend full support to struggling production units so they can perform well and contribute to quality medicine for both local markets and exports, as Bangladesh now supplies drugs to 140 countries after meeting domestic demand.”

Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd Managing Director Tapan Chowdhury said patented medicines could become more expensive in the domestic market once manufacturers are required to pay royalties after the TRIPS waiver expires.

He added that the premier advised drugmakers to complete the registration of new medicines more quickly, as the process usually takes a long time.

Simeen Rahman, CEO of Transcom Group, M Mosaddek Hossain, senior vice-president of BAPI, and Muhammad Halimuzzaman, secretary general of the organisation, were also present at the meeting.