The company's pharmaceutical's business is also poised to expand further by virtue of the joint venture with Caps Holdings in which Rallis has a 30 per cent stake. Caps will pave the way for the division into five countries -- Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi and South Africa. The venture itself is now expanding its presence by entering the East African market.
The division's marketing alliance with Eurodrug Laboratories, Netherlands will also enable the company to introduce three of its products in Mexico and Thailand under its brand. Ralli's pharmaceutical business recorded growth in excess of 20 per cent this year. The growth in profit, however, was more than 37 per cent.
To keep up with the growing trend of incorporating Internet usage in business activities, Rallis will be launching an interactive Internet site, rallikisan.com. The site will be devoted to agriculture and farm mission which is in line with the corporate mission of helping the farming community in the country to enhance productivity.
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As part of its new business endeavour, Rallis Farm Management Services Ltd, apart from providing advisory services, undertook trial cultivation of select crops. The company has developed extensive farm management techniques for commercial crops.
Two pilot projects on cotton, paddy in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have yielded good results in terms of output and enhanced farm management practices, thereby increasing the disposable income of the farmer. The two pilot projects were undertaken by Monsanto India Ltd.
During the year Pazchem Ltd, in which Rallis has a 40 per cent stake, registered the company's products in various South American, African and European markets to enable the company to increase its exports.
The board, in their meeting held on July 11, appointed Rajeev Dubey, former managing director Tata Metaliks, executive director and CEO with effect from September 1, 2000 for five years.