A team of economics professors from Japan visited GITAM University here on Monday, as part of its study of India-Japan trade relations particularly in the pharmaceutical industry.
The team headed by a professor of Japan External Trade Organisation and Institute of Developing Economics Kensuke Kubo and professors of Kobe University's Economics and Business Administration Research Institute Takahiro Sato and Ryukoku University's Department of Economics Atsuko Kamiike interacted with GITAM University Vice-Chancellor G. Subramanyam.
Prof. Kensuke Kubo said Indian companies were among top in world in the pharmaceutical industry and some Japanese companies established their pharma plants in India. Japanese companies developed new medicines for diseases such as TB.
He said that Japan was interested in strengthen the relations with academic institutions such as GITAM.
Prof. Sato said there were huge business opportunities in the area of generic drug production. The recent India-Japan comprehensive economic partnership agreement was one of the largest agreements in the history of Japan and appreciated GITAM University for entering into an MoU with Japan-based Esai Pharmaceuticals.
It was for the first time that the team was hearing about university-industry partnerships, said Prof. Atsuko. GITAM was the only Indian university having an academic collaboration with a Japan company, she said.
Prof. Subramanyam explained the university's association with reputed academic institutions and industries and the research work being done by the faculty.
Pro Vice-Chancellor D. Harinarayana, Registrar M. Potharaju, Institute of Pharmacy principal P. Suresh, Institute of Science principal N. Lakshmanadas and Prof. P.K. Sarma participated in the interactive session.
