Survey of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Pharmaceuticals Sector of Bangladesh (2004)

The assignment involved conducting a survey of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Trade Organization’s International Trade Centre (WTO–ITC), Geneva, Switzerland. Conducted from April to July 2004, the study aimed to assess the demand and supply conditions of the local pharmaceutical industry and identify opportunities for business development and export expansion.

The study examined the pharmaceutical sector’s business environment, focusing on industry demand and supply, operational challenges, and factors affecting the growth of local enterprises. The assessment sought to develop an understanding of the constraints faced by pharmaceutical businesses and their ability to compete in domestic and international markets.

YC collected and analyzed primary and secondary data to evaluate the industry’s prevailing conditions. The research included reviewing relevant policy documents, examining business information, and conducting key informant interviews with relevant stakeholders. These activities supported a structured assessment of the pharmaceutical sector and its business development prospects.

A major component of the assignment was the analysis of policies and the regulatory environment affecting pharmaceutical enterprises. YC examined relevant policies and regulations to identify business obstacles, operational constraints, and challenges associated with accessing international export markets. The findings helped highlight issues that could affect the competitiveness and growth potential of local pharmaceutical companies.

The assignment also included collecting and analyzing business and export market information to identify opportunities for strengthening the international market presence of Bangladeshi pharmaceutical enterprises. The study considered barriers to export market access and the challenges local businesses faced in establishing commercial relationships with international buyers.

As part of the assignment, YC organized and facilitated the participation of local pharmaceutical companies in the Buyer–Seller Meeting 2004 in Bangkok, Thailand, organized by ITC–WTO/UNCTAD. This initiative provided participating enterprises with opportunities to engage with international buyers, explore potential business partnerships, and develop connections that could support export growth.

The assignment was implemented by a professional team comprising M. Zakir Hossain as Study Coordinator, MAB Siddique as Field Manager, and Firoj Hasan, Sazid Hossain, and Aminul Islam as Field Investigators. The principal deliverables included an assessment of the pharmaceutical sector’s demand and supply conditions, policy and regulatory challenges, business constraints, and export market opportunities, alongside support for local companies’ participation in the international Buyer–Seller Meeting.

Assignment Details
Client: UNCTAD–WTO (ITC), Geneva, Switzerland
Project Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh
Duration: 4 months (April–July 2004)
Total Staff-Months: 2
Senior Professional Staff: M. Zakir Hossain (Study Coordinator); MAB Siddique (Field Manager); Firoj Hasan, Sazid Hossain, and Aminul Islam (Field Investigators)
Contract Value: Not specified in the available assignment information.