The plant will be able to produce about 40 types of pharmaceutical products in a year, the report said.

Beacons produces a wide range of products ranging from Anarex, a muscle relaxant, to generic drugs and supplements like Aspirin and vitamin C tablets.

The firm also signed an agreement on 1 October that involves collaborating with Nika Farm Servis (NFS), a major distributor of pharmaceutical products in Uzbekistan, on high-value manufacturing activities in the country.

The two companies will collaborate in research and development, technical provisions for manufacturing, certification according to international requirements, as well as staff training.

Their collaboration was facilitated by the Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation (SMa), which signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan in July.

’With NFS’ extensive distribution network in Uzbekistan and Beacons’ manufacturing expertise, we are confident that our venture will be a success - thanks to SMa’s business matching support,’ said Beacons managing director Joseph Lam.

The SMa said the pharmaceutical industry in the Central Asian nation is thriving, having manufactured over US$46.1 billion worth of products in the first three quarters of last year.

SMa anticipates that drug companies in Uzbekistan, which is also the pharmaceuticals supply hub for Central Asia, will introduce more than 60 new products by the end of the year.

Manufacturers of pharmaceuticals in the country will also need to modernise their production equipment by 2011.

This gives Singaporean firms opportunities to either supply Uzbekistan with manufacturing services or production equipment and other related facilities.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing, as well as research and development, represent an integral part of Singapore’s economic base, said the SMa.

It noted that Beacons is the first Singaporean drug manufacturer to have made headway into Uzbekistan, but SMa says more members are in talks to do the same.

’Beacons and NFS are quick to capitalise on the growing trends and extend their capabilities beyond local grounds. This will undoubtedly pave the way for more synergistic collaborations in the near future,’ said Ms Gwen Goh, chairman of the Singapore Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Council - a sub-committee within SMa’s life sciences industry group.

Mr Hans-Dieter Bott, chairman of SMa’s trade and investment function committee, said the MOU was to help establish a framework to ease technology exchanges and business collaboration between firms in the two nations.

’This cross-border partnership has indeed reinforced on the quality and international recognition for Singapore-made products and solutions,’ said Mr Bott.