THE RS 250-crore Himalaya Drug Company (HDC), producer of healthcare brands such as Liv.52 and Ayurvedic Concepts, is looking at three new joint ventures for marketing of its various healthcare products globally.

"The new joint ventures, which will come up in Eastern Europe, the Far East and South Africa, are likely to be given a final shape before March 2002. These will be in addition to the company's 14 similar joint ventures with leading healthcare companies in other global markets including South America, Western Europe, the CIS states, Mauritius and Malaysia," HDC President and CEO Ravi Prasad told the Hindustan Times.

Besides entering into a number of marketing JVs across the globe, HDC has also signed a technology transfer agreement in the West Asia for setting up an offshore manufacturing facility for healthcare goods. "This facility is likely to commence commercial production before the end of the current financial year," Prasad said.

The company aims to achieve an export turnover of Rs. 250 crore out of its total turnover of Rs. 500 crore in fiscal 2006-07.

In order to tap the $50 billion global healthcare products market more effectively, the company is bringing all its products under the umbrella brand Himalaya. "Himalaya strikes a chord with consumers all over the world and we hope to make it India's first truly international herbal healthcare brand," he asserted.