Dr. Remo Ludergnani (left) and Mr. Pawan Bhotika (right) sign the licencing agreement in California in late January.

Dr. Remo Ludergnani, President and CEO of United Genetics Seeds Co. (UniGen USA) is pleased to announce that the company United Genetics India Pvt. Ltd. (UniGen India) started operations on April 1st, 2005.

UniGen India is an independent company licensed by UniGen USA to handle all its interests in India and the neighboring countries.

The investment has been coordinated in cooperation with the partners of a small, independent company already operational in the Indian market, formerly named Cosmic Seeds Co. Pvt. Ltd., which has been renamed United Genetics India Pvt. Ltd. and has increased its net capital to a sizeable amount through a contribution by UniGen USA, the majority shareholder.

The minority partners, Messrs. Earanna, Patil and Srinivasa, have important reponsibilities in the new company. The management of UniGen India is in the hands of Mr. Pawan Bhotika, an internationally known seed marketer who is also a minority partner. Dr. Remo Ludergnani is chairman of the board.

Beside production and marketing, UniGen India will conduct a substantial research program with local breeders and technicians under the direction of Dr. Satish Gupta, a United Genetics scientist presently working as eggplant breeder at our Bakersfield research station. The research programs will focus on virus resistance in solanaceae and cucurbitaceae, breeding of local varieties, and papaya breeding.