Export of pharma products from Nashik to Kabul in offing.

NASHIK: The stage is set for exports of pharmaceutical products from Ozar Airport to Kabul in Afghanistan from June onwards.

Halcon — the joint venture between Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Container Corporation of India (Concor) — has firmed its plans to diversify its exports business.

At present, Halcon is involved in exporting of sheep and goats to Sharjah along with vegetables and grapes to different countries. However, sources confirmed that the commercial air cargo flights will be operating twice a month from June to export pharma products from Nashik and Aurangabad to Kabul by air.

“Each cargo flights will have a capacity to transport 100 tonne of pharma products,” added the official. Halcon officials said the exports of pharma products have huge potential as there are several pharma firms located in Nashik and Aurangabad. And instead to exporting their products from Mumbai, these units can export goods directly from Ozar Airport.

In 2008, Halcon invested around Rs 70 crore to set up the Inland Container Department (ICD) with sea cargo complex and Air Cargo Complex located adjacent to airport at Ozar. Around 14,000 20-feet equivalent units (TEUs) were exported from the ICD here during 2016-17. These were the sea exports. Of these, 3,600 TEUs were of grapes and 2,700 TEUs were of onions.

Apart from sea cargos, around 35 cargo flights also took off from Nashik that exported around 45,000 goats to Sharjah last year 2017-18. “There have been huge potential for export of pharma products from Nashik and Aurangabad belt. Around 400 tonne of pharma products can be exported to Kabul alone every month. Hence, plans are to start non-scheduled air cargo export of pharma products from next month,” sources from Halcon said.

The air cargo flight will have a capacity of exporting 100 tonne of pharma products at a time. As part of this new venture, Halcon conducted a test flight on Sunday and Monday. A cargo aircraft, Boeing 747, landed at Ozar airport from Kabul on Sunday and it took off for Kabul on Monday.

“This was an empty aircraft. It was technical test flight to find out the air route, custom immigration and other things,” added sources from Halcon adding that few more test flights will take place from Ozar Airport before the non-scheduled commercial air cargo operations starts.

“It takes around three-and-a-half hours to reach Kabul from Ozar airport. This will boost export of Pharma products from Nashik and Aurangabad,” the sources added.