Vicco Labs plans unit in Dubai

Ayurvedic product maker Vicco Laboratories is planning to set up a manufacturing facility in Dubai.

"We are planning to set up a new unit in Dubai as they have industry friendly policies," said Gajanan Keshav Pendharkar, chairman, Vicco Laboratories.

The company, whose export bill stands at nearly Rs 15-20 crore per annum, is gaining popularity in Europe and the US.

"We are also exporting 10,000 bottles of toothpowder to Italy after having been able to convince them that using fingers is much more hygenic than toothbrush," said Pendharkar.

In the domestic market, Vicco enjoys a market share of 2-3 per cent in the toothpaste segment that has a market size of Rs 3,000 crore.

On the controversy of use of human bones in manufacturing ayurvedic formulations, he said ayurvedic medicines are prepared from plants, minerals and animal bones and so far he has not come across any incident where human bones are used.