Dabur's Pak JV in next 6 months: Duggal

Dabur has said it will finalise plans within the next six months to set up manufacturing in Pakistan through a joint venture.

"We hope to conclude discussions soon... In the next six months," Dabur India CEO Sunil Duggal said.

Duggal said Pakistan was an "important market" for Dabur as part of its future growth strategy and the company will try to finalise a set-up for the country soon.

Sunil said the company was looking at a market for its personal care and digestive products in Pakistan.

Dabur currently has a distribution tie-up in Pakistan with a local partner Muller and Phips. Exports to that country are estimated at about Rs 15 crore.

The Rs 1,500-crore FMCG group has been studying the neighbouring markets for some time and Duggal said the exploratory stage was "still on."

The company has been making a lot of efforts to grow in overseas markets, including the west as well as neighbouring countries. Through a fully-owned subsidiary Dabur International, it has operations in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, UK and the US.

The company has a strong presence in Nepal and Bangladesh.

Asked whether Dabur would go with its current partner for the JV, Duggal said it was one of the contenders.

"We are yet to take a final call on this," Duggal said.