Countries which show positive value in balance of foreign trade are the countries that run researches for drugs or support generic medicines and give priority to drug sector to raise exports up to a significant level.
According to 2002 data, world’s drug exportation share is %27,1 in world’s drug market. This ratio has been estimated as %26,4 to be in 2003. Turkish drug exportation in 2002 is %0,13 with 157 million dollars in world exportation market. With 246 million dollars exports in 2003, Turkish share in world exportation has been estimated as %0,19 to be.
Foreign trade shortage in Turkish drug Industry is derived from insufficient level of exports being done besides increasing exports. Turkey is doing its major exports to EU countries. According to EU’s 11-month data in 2007, its drug and medical product importation as value 33,16 milliards Euro has been supplied predominantly by the USA and Switzerland.
Countries which EU importation has been done
Source: Eurostat, External and Intra-European Union Trade, 2/2008
While exportation of China is %3, as among EU candidate countries, Turkey, Macedonia, and Croatia’s exports which are %1 to EU should be considered from foreign market competition point of view to set the sector targets up as an important indicator.
Sector that having important exports potential should make necessary investments on marketing and technical fields, and also it should maintain them in order to be successful in highly competitive foreign market. To make necessary investments and expenses for foreign markets can be only possible if firms establish foundation. Success cannot be expected from economically weak companies in highly competitive environments.
Furthermore, policies that make Turkish drug Industry’s economical structure powerful primarily should be defined and apply consistently. With regards to the fact that %60 of the drugs that produced in Turkey and currently on the market are generic medicines, generic medicine production and use would led to Turkish drug Industry’s competition strength to be increased, and exports potential with this aspect to be improved.
