The products are likely to be introduced in the India market in a year's time.

Shreya Impex officials informed that one of companies is Plivia, while talks with the other company are at a very preliminary stage. Shreya Impex is currently marketing the products of the two companies in Russia, which has a market presence of around $8 million in Russia.

Company managing director Anmol Shah said that the products to be introduced will be in the gynecological, nutrition enhancement and arthritis segment.

Mr Shah added that the products would continue to be manufactured in Russia and then exported to India for distribution. The company has a manufacturing unit at Baroda but it does not want to get into manufacturing of these products at present.

Mr Shah added: "The company wants to strengthen its distribution base in India and hence enhance relationship with multinationals also." He said that Shreya would also look at distributing products of smaller companies with a turnover of around Rs 30 crore to Rs 60 crore.

The Rs 15,000 crore pharmaceutical market is growing at an annual rate of 11 per cent to 12 per cent. According to Mr Shah the market provides an excellent distribution opportunity. The company, however, does not have any plans to market antibiotics at the moment though it accounts for a large chunk of the sector - around 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the market.

Shreya Corporation operates in Russia through a network of 29 branches spread across the country with a staff strength of around 2,300 people. It is the third largest marketing and distribution company in Russia. Its Indian operations comprises two recently set up Mumbai-based companies - Shreya Healthcare Pvt Ltd and its manufacturing and domestic marketing company called Shreya Impex Pvt Ltd.