Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries (Julphar) was listed recently on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market, making it the 24th company to figure on the UAE capital's bourse.

Julphar registered a turnover of Dh333 million ($90.6 million) in 2001 compared with Dh283 million in 2000. The company's net profit showed a growth of 11 per cent to Dh36.3 million from Dh32.8 million in 2000.

Julphar exports its products to some 40 countries and has subsidiaries in the UAE and overseas.

With the recent addition of Julphar - 6, the company has raised its profile as one of the premier pharmaceutical manufacturers of the Middle East.

Julphar - 6, at Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, is capable of producing 94 million bottles of syrups, suspensions and oral drops annually. Julphar has four plants in Ras Al Khaimah and one each in Equador (South America) and Germany.

In addition to the six main manufacturing plants, the company has several wholly owned affiliates providing support services. These include a UAE-wide infrastructure of distribution and warehousing, pharmacy management, state-of-the-art printing and packaging facilities, the manufacture of plastic dosing cups and aluminium pilfer-proof caps.

Julphar has indicated that the seventh main plant of the group is to be built in Saudi Arabia. The company is also contemplating installing production facilities in Iran and Egypt.