Even though Eliot has termed April  as the “cruelest month”, for the pharma fraternity this April is of special significance  since the month is all set to see a humdinger pharma event,  PharmaTech ExpoTM 2011 at Indore, the cultural capital of Madhya Pradesh.

The expo is  the most prestigious specialized pharmaceutical exhibition at Indore, with participation from hundreds of manufacturers - bulk drug, formulation, process, plant and packaging machinery manufacturers, CROs, trade promotion organizations -practically everybody directly and indirectly involved in the pharmaceutical industry. An exhibition of this scale is being organized at Indore for the first time, aver organizers of the event.

The event, touted as  the largest pharma expo in Indore , is jointly organised by Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA), the oldest association of pharmaceutical manufacturers in India, as a part of its  Golden Jubilee Year celebrations , with PharmaTechnologyIndex.com, a KNS group  company.

The expo  being held from April 22 to 24 on 48 acres of land  at Lal Bagh Palace Ground will be held  concurrently with Indiamart Indexpo Indore 2011,an industrial expo ensuring maximum industry related visitors.

Says N R Munjal, President of IDMA,"The PharmaTechExpo 2011 exhibition will offer a premier venue for the Indian pharmaceutical industry to showcase their latest advancements, achievements, modem technologies and newest trends within the industry in manufacturing, packaging R&D etc. The exhibition will connect thousands of buyers and sellers on an unprecedented scale... What better place to be in than Indore that is fast becoming an important pharmaceutical hub with leading companies setting up their latest state of the art manufacturing units”.

“This is our Golden Jubilee Year and we have planned to bring more cities and areas in India into focus for developing our varied pharmaceutical and allied industries. What better way than an exhibition that brings the manufacturers and the potential customers/buyers together at one place face to face”, says Daara Patel,Secy General of IDMA.

“New pharmaceutical hubs that have come up recently, need to be supported and well publicized. Manufacturing of pharmaceutical products and allied machinery and materials should be encouraged in all states with a proper level playing field and not just the metros. IDMA as the largest and oldest representative association of the Indian pharmaceutical industry, with members from micro, small, medium, large and very large enterprises  has been taking the lead in providing the necessary boost to the growth and development of the industry all these years. To commemorate our Golden Jubilee Year, we took the initiative of organizing this  exhibition for the benefit of the Indian pharma industry”, he adds

“Till date most companies have jumped at the chance to participate in the exhibition. We are trying to ensure that all sections of the pharma industry including the machinery manufacturing industries  along with the packaging industry and other service providers get opportunities to exhibit their wares”, he says.

PharmaTech Expo 2011 will not only support IDMA members but also will help and  support the entire pharma industry.  “We are offering world class expo facilities, that will  provide great opportunities for the suppliers, equipment & plants, machineries, API’s etc” concludes  Daara Patel

Indore is the hub of big, medium and small pharma companies. Ranbaxy, IPCA, Plethico, Piramal, PDPL, Syncom, Lupin, Pentagon and Advance Enzyme are some of well known manufacturers having their large production base in and around Indore. The Unichem project is now coming up in Indore in a big way as well. Indore is also well connected by air, rail and by road.

Says  Ramesh K Shah, Chairman,PharmaTechnologyIndex.com Pvt Ltd, “the response for the expo is so encouraging that we are even thinking of organizing the event every alternative year”.

Indore being  a hub for pharma companies will be  a good platform  to project  business. In fact The Drug Controller of India has decided to open Pharma Regulatory Zonal Office at Indore for meeting the needs of vendors, he adds.

A unique feature of this exhibition is the facility of visitor tracking system that can be accessed by any exhibitor. Probably it may be for the first time in country such a facility is being installed in any expo. All exhibitors will be able to track the visitors  by just entering unique visitor ID number in their computers, he points out.  

The main objectives of organising the expo is to project the latest technological trends in pharma industry, facilities and services available, quality control and govt. regulations & controls, showcase the latest products, machinery, equipment developments in the industry for generating business and up gradation, to project the brand value of organizations, joint venture firm, partnership firm, project collaborations, transfer of technology, investments and R & D etc.

Commenting on the event , R K. Agrawall , Managing Director, Indore Infoline Pvt. Ltd , co-organiser, says “Indore , the commercial hub of all industrial activities in Central India is a great trading centre also. Pithampur is a major industrial sector close to Indore. Many big pharma companies  like Lupin, ACG, Syncom, Ranbaxy, Plethico, IPCA, Reddys are having their plants in the pharma  SEZ here  and more than 250 pharma units provide a great opportunity for suppliers of machinery and technology in pharma sector. PharmaTech Expo 2011 will provide a great opportunity for the suppliers of technology, equipment and plants. We are offering world class expo facilities for the participants.”

The event will have  a wide range of exhibitor categories like APIs and formulations manufacturers, processing plant and machinery, packaging materials and machinery, lab equipment, instruments, software, lab wares, water treatment, waste management, biotechnology and CROs, intermediates manufacturers, excipients, additives, quality control, healthcare products, R&D and standards, environment and pollution control, technical publications, trade associations, trade promotion bodies, safety equipment and  and management.

The visitor profile include CEO's, engineers, technocrats and scientists, pharmacists,R & D professionals,  biotechnology specialists, academicians, teachers & students,equipment suppliers & distributors, policy makers, diplomats and foreign commercial corp, regulatory officers,purchase officers of pharma companies and trade delegates of various countries.

The exhibitor profile include processing plant and machinery, packaging materials and machinery, lab equipment, instruments, lab wares, water treatment, waste management, biotechnology & CROs, bulk drugs, intermediates, formulations, excipients, additives, R&D, quality control ,healthcare products & contract manufacturers, R& D, environment & pollution control, technical publications, trade associations, trade promotion bodies, safety equipment, software for pharma industry and management

The highlights of the event include  70,000 sq. feet floor area, Wi-Fi enabled pavilions with A.C domes, octanorm stalls with  furniture, carpeted wooden flooring and  hi-tech security.

Industry leaders are equally effusive about the expo. Says Mahendra R. Mehta  of Parle Global Technologies Pvt Ltd, “IDMA is an apex organization which has been working for the benefit of the Indian pharma industry  for a long time. If an organization of the stature of IDMA holds an event, it automatically enhances its brand value. This enhanced value provides an excellent platform for the  participants”

According to Maulik Dave of Harikrushna Machintech Pvt Ltd, PharmaTech Expo would   revolutionize the pharma industry in Indore and nearby areas. The expo would give an ignition to what pharma industry was deprived of in  this  area. There are around 250 pharma units in Madhya Pradesh and  this expo would  benefit all units here.

Jatyesh Khambhayata of  Cemach Machinery Pvt Ltd while lauding   PharmaTechnologylndex.com for exploring the pharma potential of  Indore  and  organizing  the  event ,said that  the expo would help to enhance   the market value of Indore which is  having many big and small pharma units.

According to Pravin Mhapankar of Thermolab Scientific Equipments Pvt. Ltd, the expo would  give a new direction  to the pharma industry in central India. Welcoming  the  efforts of PharmaTechnotogylndexcom and  IDMA , he said  it is a nice initiative to target new areas other than metro cites.

NM  Mehta of  Newtronic Equipment Company Pvt. Ltd said the expo would  give the  industry an opportunity to take  its market to  new heights  and gain recognition.

According to Mahesh Mervada of  Brothers Pharmamach (India) Pvt Ltd, the expo  would  give an opportunity for all the stakeholders in the pharma industry to come and gather at a single platform.

K.P.Kumar of Rapid pack Engineering Pvt. Ltd and Parag Kothi of  Amkette  Analytics Private Ltd chimed in when they said the expo  would  provide a  good platform for pharma manufacturers, suppliers and buyers to  do  business in central India.