In the meantime, PT Kimia Farma still maintains operations in its domestic market by establishing a joint venture with a Chinese company.

PT Kimia Farma director Syamsul Arifin said his company would soon begin negotiations with various Vietnamese companies.

”I will go to Vietnam next week to talk about what forms of business we might undertake there. From Vietnam, we will also be able to cover Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar,” Syamsul Arifin said.

The expansion to Vietnam will deepen Kimia Farma’s presence in other countries after its previous entry into the Malaysian market. The company cooperated with Malaysian company Averroes to build three drug stores there last year.