'Surgical industry capable of earning $300 million annually'

Surgical Instrument Manufacturers Association of Pakistan (Simap) Chairman, Aamir Riaz Bhinder has said the surgical industry is capable to earn at least 300 million dollars annually within three years time but it needs extra-ordinary attention of concerned government departments.
Talking to newsmen here on Tuesday, he said that the world market of surgical industry was around 30 billion dollars whereas the share of Pakistan was hovering between 180 to 200 million dollars for the last two decades.
Individually, in their limited business capacity, the exporters are already trying to bring in new techniques, technologies and products in the field of surgical. He foresees that currently there was no threat of global competition especially in Asian region for Pakistan adding that Pakistan was the largest supplier of medical instruments to America, Central European Countries Japan etc, he said.
Simap chairman said that the major problem of surgical industry was lack of proper liaison between the industry and government. The authorities prepare policies without prior consultation with relevant industry and then expect from the business community to mould according to the policy.
Aamir Riaz Bhinder further said that lack of brand development was another major issue concerning to this industry. Brand development was such an exercise that could not be done by a company due to the fact it requires huge resources and expertise and support of the government is direly needed in this regard.
The businessmen engaged with surgical industry in Germany, Japan, UK, USA etc, were enjoying full support of their governments in shape of technology up-gradation, training, export marketing strategies, linkage with academia etc, while Pakistani surgical producers have no such support.
The setting up of skill development center, common facility center, R&D support, brand development and promotion, export marketing strategies, direct linkage with universities and institutes were the need of hour for tracking the surgical industry on modern and scientific lines and its global acknowledgement, he said.
The Simap had prepared an outline and proposals for presenting the government for the development of the industry, he said.