Ranbaxy Laboratories, the country's largest drug maker by sales, said Tuesday it has set up an additional state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Malaysia for generic and branded medicines.

Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn. Bhd (RMSB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ranbaxy Laboratories, commissioned the new facility in Kedah, Malaysia, said a statement issued here.

The new plant will meet the growing demand for generic and branded medicines in the local markets and will also position RMSB as a significant supplier of formulations for the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, added the statement.

RMSB will also be using the facility to manufacture products for supply to other Ranbaxy subsidiaries and operations within the ASEAN region.

"This new facility will help to expand and consolidate our presence in the region," said Brian W. Tempest, CEO of the New Delhi-headquartered Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited.

RMSB has marketing collaborations with leading drug makers like Schwarz Pharmaceuticals, Desitin, Pharmascience and Almirall Prodesfarma to promote their brands in Malaysia and Singapore.

*-*

Hi Bird Cycles unveils offices in China, Netherlands

Hi Bird Cycles, one of the country's largest manufacturers and exporters of bicycle and bicycle parts, said Tuesday it has opened branch offices in China and the Netherlands with a view to expanding its export base.

The company said that with the opening up of branch offices in these countries it would increase exports in European countries and look for new markets.

Hi Bird Cycles sells over 100 models of bicycles in the domestic and international markets. The company also exports sports goods and other engineering products.

The company said it was on the verge of signing a technological tie-up with a major bicycle manufacturing company in Europe to manufacture high-end cycles.

Hi Bird Cycles has set up a network of about 2,000 dealers and plans to expand it to 4,000 across the country by next year.

*-*

Delphi, Worldspace to launch satellite radio in India

Delphi Corporation, a world leader in automotive systems and components, said Tuesday it has signed an agreement with global satellite radio broadcaster WorldSpace Inc. to make mobile satellite radios available in India.

The companies will jointly market mobile satellite audio receivers in India, and subsequently plan to expand the product's availability into China, said a statement issued here.

The product is expected to be available in the Indian market in the first half of 2006.

"We expect Delphi-WorldSpace mobile satellite radio to fundamentally transform the mobile listening experience in India," said Dominic Seto, managing director (Asia Pacific) of Delphi Product and Service Solutions.

"With our product, Indian listeners can expect better sound quality than they are used to with conventional AM/FM equipment, as well as a greater variety of programming," he added.

*-*

Gopala Polyplast to set up power plant

Gopala Polyplast Ltd. said Tuesday that the company has decided to set up a one megawatt natural gas-based captive power plant.

The engine for the power plant will be imported from GE-Jenbacher, Austria, said a company statement issued here.

The company has signed an agreement with state-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation for supply of piped natural gas to its plant. The pipeline has already been laid.

"Gas being a cheaper and cleaner fuel will result in substantial savings in power cost of the company resulting in higher profits," said the Gopala Polyplast statement.

The company expects to commission the plant in September this year.