Rohto Pharmaceutical Co. Japan ties up with Kolkata based SastaSundar.com

Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“Rohto”) Japan, yesterday, announced a capital and business alliance with Kolkata based SastaSundar Healthbuddy Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SastaSundar Ventures Limited, an NSE and BSE listed company, owning and operating SastaSundar.com, a leading digital network of healthcare in India. Rohto has invested $5 million (Rs 32.2 crores) in SastaSundar Healthbuddy Limited and is likely to make further investments as the business progresses. Dr. Lekh Raj Juneja, Executive Vice-President & Global Head International Business of Rohto, B. L. Mittal, Founder & Executive Chairman, SastaSundar Healthbuddy Limited, His Excellency, Mr. Yasuhiko Tanaka(Deputy Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata), Koji Suzuki, Managing Director, Rohto Pharma (India) Pvt. Ltd. & Ravi Kant Sharma, Managing Director & CEO, SastaSundar Healthbuddy Limited were present to announce this grand alliance.

Rohto entered India in 2010, by establishing its wholly-owned subsidiary ‘Rohto Pharma (India) Pvt. Ltd.’, with its leading lip care brand ‘LipIce’. The following year it launched a range of products including ‘LipIce Color’ under its brand ‘LipIce’. Subsequently, it launched two new brands – ‘OXY’ specialised skin care range for men, and ‘Acnes’ for specialised acne care, in India.

“Rohto is looking for the expansion of its base in India with SastaSundar.com as its preferred partner in the e-commerce business. SastaSundar.com has shown significant growth in West Bengal in a short span since starting their operations and we were indeed impressed with their business model and hence decided to invest. Rohto will assist SastaSundar.com in scaling its operations pan-India with its global expertise. Rohto embraces this entrepreneurial opportunity as the friendship between the two great nations of India and Japan. With this alliance, we will in our small ways contribute towards attaining the Make-in-India and Digital India initiative”, said Dr. Lekh Raj Juneja, Executive Vice-President & Global Head International Business, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

"West Bengal has a favourable business environment, which has helped in the growth of SastaSundar.com. We are extremely proud to have Rohto joining hands with us, which will be mutually beneficial. As we are on a growth path and looking for a pan-India expansion, starting with Delhi, where we plan to start our operations soon, our association with Rohto will help us in achieving our immediate goal”, said Mr. B. L. Mittal, Founder & Executive Chairman, SastaSundar Healthbuddy Limited. SastaSundar aims to have a total of 250 Healthbuddy stores in West Bengal & 50 Healthbuddy stores in Delhi by March 2018.