Breaking Boundaries: Pakistani Companies Obtain UAE Licenses for Expansion

Yesterday, a couple of Pakistan-based firms in the pharmaceutical and digitization sectors (Searle Company Limited & Octopus Digital) announced that they had acquired licenses from the authorities in the United Arab Emirates. The move will enable the companies to expand their network into international markets.

The Searle Company Limited:

The company primarily deals in pharmaceutical and consumer product manufacturing and is based in Karachi. It has informed the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) that the Ministry of Health and Prevention in the UAE had approved its proposal to register its manufacturing site. According to the company’s stock filing,

Searle is expanding rapidly in several regions of the world including South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa and Francophone Africa, Gulf Cooperation Council, Commonwealth of Independent States, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

The managing director of Searle, Tahir Ahmed, proudly revealed on social media that his company had become the first ever Pakistani pharmaceutical company to enter the Gulf state. He also said that it was carried out as part of its global outreach plan. The registration will allow Searle to conduct laboratory testing, packaging, storage, and product release in the UAE.

The company’s CEO, Syed Nadeem Ahmed, explained that Searle’s UAE registration would facilitate product exports throughout the region.

“The license which was important has been obtained and now the product dossiers are being sent,” he informed. “The distributor has also been appointed and business will start soon.”

Octopus Digital:

The company is a subsidiary of AVANCEON and has obtained a license as a Free Zone Limited Liability Company under the Dubai Development Authority to work in Internet City. The company renders digitalization services to global manufacturing, supply chain, and financial businesses. In a note to Stock Market Authorities, the company said,

The UAE’s thriving business environment and strategic location makes it an ideal hub for Octopus Digital FZ-LLC to further enhance its global presence and deliver unparalleled value to its customers.

Muhammad Adnan, the Group Corporate Executive, stated that AVANCEON, having 75 percent of Octopus Digital’s shares, already had a presence in Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. However, he stressed that establishing a presence in Dubai was a significant strategic move for the organization. In their PSX notice, the company expressed its intent to form a subsidiary in the UAE to strengthen its commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and global expansion.

“By expanding its presence in this vibrant market, Octopus Digital aims to better serve the needs of its customers in the region and strengthen its position as a leading player in Industry 4.0 solutions,” the notice read.

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