The Indian life sciences sector has made remarkable progress in the last decade along with the pharmaceuticals industry which is expected to top US $54 billion by 2020. Fuelled primarily by exports and the generics industry, the pharmaceuticals sector in India has seen positive growth both in terms of value and volume.
In the past few years, the Indian pharmaceutical industry has grown at nearly 12 to 15 per cent which is a tremendous pace of growth compared to that of the US or European markets. Despite having achieved big success in a short span of time, the Indian pharma, biotech and medical devices industry still needs to do much more for the future growth.
Even with the fall of upcoming patent cliff which may give a temporary boost for manufacturers to venture into generic versions of leading brands, it wouldn’t sustain long without chalking out an innovative strategy for growth.
Though, initially the reverse engineering enabled India to surge as a global leader in the manufacturing of high quality generics at affordable rates, the same won't be enough for long as it has reached a saturation point with many competitors jumping into the fray.
Having understood this, BioAsia 2014, the global bio business forum being held from February 17 to19, 2014 at Hyderabad International Convention Center (HICC) in Hyderabad has chosen the theme ‘Innovate Evolve’, which is an apt mantra for the Indian pharma industry to emerge as a strong player in the global arena.
With about 50 countries, 460 business meetings and 60 leading speakers of life sciences from across the globe, the BioAsia event is gearing up to become a big platform for global industry leaders. “Over the years BioAsia has evolved and year after year it has become a favourite arena for the global bio-pharmaceutical companies. With contemporary theme ‘innovate evolve’ BioAsia 2014 is going to become a platform to unleash future growth of the industry,” says, Shakthi M Nagappan, CEO, BioAsia.
BioAsia will prove to be a unique platform to discuss, access and take advantage of the challenges, opportunities of the vibrant, sustainable and potential innovations in life sciences R&D, adds the CEO.
As innovations create a better tomorrow, the life sciences industry can evolve only if it embraces innovation. As researches and surveys point to the generational shift of the industry towards bio, BioAsia is set to unveil the future, showcasing immense opportunities for bio-business. The 11th edition of BioAsia will be unveiling innovations and offer excellent opportunities for new business ideas.
BioAsia 2014 is being organized by FABA, Pharmexcil and Government of Andhra Pradesh. Active since 2004, BioAsia has established strong roots in Hyderabad and has been successful in bringing the world together on one platform to meet, discuss, resolve and to churn out new strategies, plans and programmes to meet the healthcare needs of the masses with innovative products and services, reaching out to newer horizons of pharma and biotechnology business.
Pharmexcil business meet
The Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is planning to organize an international business meet at BioAsia. Fast gearing up to organize the big annual event of BioAsia 2014, the council is also partnering with Federation of Biotech Association (FABA).
As a part of this event, the council with the active support of Ministry of Commerce and Industry, government of India is inviting importers, buyers, FDA officials, drug regulatory officials from different regions of the world viz., Latin American countries (LAC), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), Common wealth of Independent States (CIS) and countries from Africa and central Asia.
The international business meet which is planned to be conducted on the sidelines of BioAsia 2014 is expected to attract more than 50 delegates from major countries in the LAC, ASEAN, CIS and Africa.
The event is expected to witness detailed presentations from regulatory authorities of different countries. Officials from FDA and government authorities of many nations are expected to participate in the technical sessions on the existing regulatory systems. Members from pharmaceutical and biotech industry form India can take part in these sessions and can get clarifications on the export - related issues and regulations if any during the meeting.
“The international business meet is an apt platform for the Indian pharma exporters. More emphasis will be given on one-to-one meetings with the buyers. The event will provide a unique opportunity to meet delegates from developed and developing markets,” informed Raghuveer Kini, Executive Director ,Pharmexcil.
The three day programme is conveniently divided into five sessions for business meetings including one follow up session. Members have option to select any one of the four business sessions of their choice to meet the overseas buyers. All the registered delegates will have an opportunity to meet the foreign delegates on the third day, informed the ED.
As the council is also planning to take the foreign delegates, drug regulatory authorities and FDA officials on plant visits, the pharmaceutical organizations from Hyderabad can avail of this facility by intimating their willingness to the council so that an appropriate schedule is prepared for the plant visit.
“We are inviting about 50 delegates from major countries in LAC, ASEAN, CIS and Africa. FDA and drug regulatory officials of various countries will make presentations on drug regulatory systems. Emphasis will be on one-to-one meetings with the buyers, providing a unique opportunity to meet delegates from developed and developing markets,” said Dr. Appaji, Director General of Pharmexcil.
Santa Fe, the international state partner
Santa Fe International is the major international state partner for BioAsia 2014. Looking to take part in a big way, a 40-member business delegation from the province of Santa Fe in Argentina is also visiting Hyderabad to take part and explore bilateral collaboration between India and Argentina at BioAsia 2014.
The business delegation from the province of Santa Fe is the biggest-ever foreign government delegation to take part in this year’s edition of BioAsia. The 40-member delegation comprises ministers, senators, bureaucrats, industry and institutions from Santa Fe. All these authorities from Argentina are expected to be present at BioAsia 2014.
The main aim of this visiting delegation is to form bilateral collaboration between the two nations and improve business relations in the field of pharmaceuticals and biotechnology.
About 20 biotech companies from the province of Santa Fe are expected to participate in BioAsia this year. Many of them are seeking partnership, collaboration and business with Indian companies/institutions on key areas, particularly pharma and bioenergy. The biotech industry in Santa Fe is focused on human health and bio-pharma, agro-biotechnology and industrial processing. Many of these companies which came up in the last 20 years are SMEs and university spin offs.
“India and Santa Fe can work together in the development of new pharmaceutical and biopharmaceuticals, biomedical tests, new seeds, new products and processes to improve food industry and agricultural chains value and improvement of biofuel production.
As most of our biotech and bio-pharma companies are SMEs, their thrust is on innovation which is why BioAsia as a platform is a perfect fit for us as they too are focused on innovation in this edition,” said Antonio Bonfatti, Governor of the province of Santa Fe.
“The official delegation of Santa Fe Government will comprise Governor of the province of Santa Fe, Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Secretary of the Treasury, Director of Industrial Pharmaceutical Laboratory (LIF) and senators among others. The objective of this association is to promote businesses, collaborative research and development projects in strategic subjects. BioAsia will help showcase the full-fledged ecosystem of Santa Fe biotech industry to Indian companies looking towards South America to scale up, collaborate or for mergers and acquisitions,” said Shakthi M Nagappan.
The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh is expected to preside as the Chief Guest along with Geeta Reddy Minister for Industries, government of Andhra Pradesh.
FABA and Pharmexcil along with state of Andhra Pradesh are organizing this event. Apart from Santa Fe from Argentina, BioAsia 2014 has also roped in UK as the country partner besides Gangwon from South Korea as another international state partner. Among others, KPMG has joined as knowledge partner and ICRISAT as AgBio partner.
While Dr. Reddy’s is supporting the event as principal industry partner, GVKBIO and Bharat Biotech are the major industry co-hosts for the event.