The pharma machinery manufacturers in the country can shortly have access to the latest innovations in the global pharma machinery manufacturing industry, thanks to the Indian Pharma Machinery Manufacturer's Association (IPMMA), the sole body of pharma machine manufacturers in India

The IPMMA is at various levels of talks with overseas associations such as International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and American Pharmacists Association and an agreement is expected to reach shortly. As per the proposed tie-up, the IPMMA members will get technical support on the latest innovations in the pharma machine manufacturing industry.

In a conversation with Chronicle Pharmabiz, IPMMA secretary Ratan Singhania said, "Despite the rapid growth of pharmaceutical industry in the country, the pharma machinery manufacturing industry continues to be in an infant stage. The industry with sales of Rs 2000 crore, is facing issues like prolonged delivery period and poor automation. The IPMMA's move for tie-ups with overseas associations is envisaged to enable the members to meet these challenges."

The tie-up with overseas associations will help the companies to address various challenges faced by them. The proposed tie-up will help the domestic companies to get an idea about the latest innovations in the industry. The associations will organise seminars on various topics related to pharmaceutical engineering, as the part of this agenda.

The association is planning to organise more seminars in collaboration with the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) to provide information on banking sector and safety standards. The Pakistan governments' move to lift the trade embargo fully will register an increase in the export of pharmaceutical machines, Ratan Singhania said. The trade embargo imposed by the Pakistan government over India has been relaxed in the last two years.

The IPMMA is also pursuing the union government to include pharma equipments in the bilateral trade agreement with a group of Latin American countries, including Brazil. The pharma machinery exports will shoot up 5-10 per cent, once move is materialized, Singhania added.