Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd plans to establish its presence in France, Mexico and Spain within two to three years.

This is a part of the company's game plan to be present in 11 of the world's top 12 pharmaceutical markets by 2005.

The pharma major is already present in eight of the world's top 12 pharmaceutical markets including US, Japan, Germany, UK, China, Brazil, Canada and India.

In 2000, France, Mexico and Spain accounted for 4.6 per cent, 1.5 per cent and 1.7 per cent of the global pharmaceutical market.

While Mexico ranked 11 in the IMS list of top pharmaceutical markets in 2000, its rank is expected to go up to 7 by 2005.

France would be the fourth largest pharmaceutical market by 2005, according to IMS, while Spain would rank 11 in the list.

According to IMS figures, the world's top 12 pharmaceutical markets account for more than 80 per cent of the global pharmaceutical market.

The company has been steadily enhancing its presence in the world's advanced markets.

Only recently, Ranbaxy entered the world's second largest pharmaceutical market, Japan.

The company has acquired a 10 per cent stake in Nihon Pharmaceutical Industry Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Nippon Chemiphar Co Ltd.

Ranbaxy's entry into Japan is timely as the nation is reviewing its generic drugs policy given the financial burden it faces because of its drugs reimbursement scheme.

Ranbaxy's global sales for the nine months ended September 2002 were $573 million. Of this, the sales from the US alone was $207 million. The US accounts for more than 40 per cent of the global pharmaceutical market.