<div><strong>C.H. Unnikrishnan</strong></div><div> </div><div>US drug maker Abbott Laboratories, which invested at least Rs 25,600 crore ($4 billion) in India in the last five years including the acquisition of domestic drug formulation business of erstwhile Piramal Healthcare and setting up a brand new nutritional products manufacturing unit in Gujarat, is planning to make additional investments in the country across its various business verticals.</div><div> </div><div>The fresh investments will include a new integrated corporate office at Mumbai’s new business hub Bandra-Kurla Complex and expansion in research and development and manufacturing. The US healthcare group currently operates in the areas of drugs and pharmaceuticals, health and nutrition products and diagnostics and healthcare devices in India.</div><div> </div><div>Abbott said on Wednesday (September 30) that it plans to invest in a new Mumbai corporate office in the Godrej BKC building in the Bandra-Kurla Complex that will allow it to consolidate existing offices and operations in Mumbai into a single location. The group also intends to expand manufacturing capacity and research and development capability, employee development and community programs in India.</div><div> </div><div>The group did not disclose the total amount of the new investments that it intends to put in the country now. </div><div> </div><div>“India is one of the most important places in the world for Abbott, and we’re investing here accordingly,” Abbott global chairman and chief executive officer Miles D. White said in a Wednesday statement.</div><div> </div><div>“We intend to be a strong, committed, and contributing part of India’s future,” White added.</div><div> </div><div>Abbott has been present in India for more than 100 years and employs about 14,000 people in the country at present, with a total sales turnover of about Rs 7,000 crore.</div><div> </div><div>India is among the top three countries in sales for the company, which has invested in three manufacturing facilities (Goa and Baddi for pharmaceuticals, and Jhagadia in Gujarat for nutrition) and two research and development facilities (Mumbai for pharmaceuticals and Bangalore for nutrition).</div><div> </div><div>Abbott’s new investments in India will be mainly for the 4,00,000 sq ft. office space housing at least 1,500 employees, infrastructure and staff at both its pharmaceutical and nutrition research facilities to drive innovations and new product introductions in India and expansion of capacity at the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Baddi.</div><div> </div><div>The consolidation of existing offices and operations will bring together all of Abbott’s businesses in Mumbai into one location. Abbott anticipates occupying the building starting in 2016. The company is investing in a leadership pipeline and skill-building and development of its employees, Abbott said.</div><div> </div><div>It will also expand its pharmaceutical development facility in Mumbai for developing new solutions for people across the rest of the world. Through expansion of capacity at the pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Baddi, Abbott is working to meet growing needs in India and also export branded generic pharmaceuticals to other emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Africa.</div><div> </div><div> </div>
