VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia has constantly driven the sales of medicines and medical devices in Africa's market and deepened penetration of pharmaceutical products in African nations, noted a written statement by Indonesia's Embassy in Pretoria, received in Jakarta, Friday.

"The African people's requirements of medical devices and medicines are high, but their access is yet limited. This offers a great opportunity for our medical products to continue to make inroads into the African market," Indonesian Ambassador to South Africa Salman Al-Farisi remarked.

Ambassador Al-Farisi made the statement at the opening of the Indonesian Pavilion at the Africa Health Exhibition held on May 28-30, 2019, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"The Indonesian branding must be strengthened, one of which is through our participation in this big exhibition," Ambassador Al-Farisi emphasized.

Four Indonesian companies participating in the exhibition were PT. Biofarma, PT. Dexa Medica, PT. Phapros, and CV. Kurniatama Lestari. The strategically located Indonesian Pavilion successfully attracted some visitors at the exhibition.

PT Biofarma, a vaccine and anti-sera manufacturer that has distributed its products in 40 African countries, carried vaccine samples, such as for measles, Hepatitis B, polio, and meningitis, to the exhibition.

Private company PT Dexa Medica also showcased its products, including cold medicine, children's immunity-booster, medicines for allergy and diabetes, as well as for bloating and nausea.

PT Phapros, the renowned pharmaceutical company that produces Antimo (antiemetic), promoted various medicines, including for treating tuberculosis, health supplements, and herbal medicines for hypertension.

In the meantime, a small and medium scale enterprise, CV. Kurniatama Lestari, promoted traditional health products comprising herbal tea, herbal coffee, and spa products, such as body scrubs and massage oils.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria successfully brought the Indonesian delegation to meet with the local authority, specifically the South African Health Products and Regulatory Authority or SAHPRA, and prospective partners -- distributors and pharmaceutical companies -- from South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Botswana.

Not only marketing products, but the Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria also worked with Indonesian business delegates to establish cooperation with local stakeholders, including through joint production, joint ventures, or joint research and development.

Medicines and medical devices from Indonesia have been well-known and have penetrated several countries in Africa. The Indonesian Embassy in Pretoria has constantly worked towards strengthening Indonesia's presence in the African market, one of which is by participating in some exhibitions.

Africa Health is the biggest health exhibition in the African continent that gathers various actors in the business of health, pharmaceutical, and health-care manufacturing.

The event has drawn over 10 thousand visitors and was attended by 560 exhibitors from 39 countries every year. Apart from Indonesia, some other nations including the United States, Germany, China, India, Austria, Japan, Turkey, and South Korea, also participated in the exhibition.