Chris Kilbee, Group Director Pharma, UBM Live, in an email interaction with AD Pradeep Kumar gives an over of CPhI South East Asia.

What are your comments on the current scenario and prospects of the South East Asian pharma market?
The South East Asian pharmaceutical market is expanding, facilitated by increased harmonization throughout the region. Highlighting it’s strong position, Indonesia (where CPhI South East Asia is based) has a pharmaceutical market growing faster than the world’s average and is projected to be the fastest growing economy within the ASEAN- it is predicted to rise at an annual rate of 6% through to 2018. Further, pharmaceutical firms within the region are set to benefit from the government’s universal healthcare system enforced this year. As a result, healthcare spending in Indonesia is anticipated to reach US$21.7bn by 2015. With the potential for a pharmaceutical market value of US$80bn by 2017, alongside the increased harmonization across all South East Asian nations, CPhI South East Asia and its co-located events provide an unparalleled regional platform for both domestic and international buyers and suppliers to meet, network and drive the South East Asian pharma sector.

Could you briefly explain the evolution of CPhI South East Asia
As the South East Asian pharmaceutical market continues to expand — it’s central hub (Indonesia) is home to the fourth largest population in the world — generating an increased demand for healthcare, CPhI South East Asia plays a very important role in facilitating new business opportunities for both domestic and international companies. The event now runs seminars alongside the exhibition which provide invaluable information for all looking to do business within the region; this additional offering, combined with co-located events P-MEC and InnoPack, attracts definitive pharmaceutical industry professionals across the whole spectrum of pharma services.  

What are the novel features this year?
One highlight of this year’s event, new for 2014, is innovation tours. All attendees will have the opportunity to join industry experts and top exhibitors as they showcase their latest innovations to the pharmaceutical community. The show will also feature exhibitor presentations free for all to attend, in which the latest company news and product portfolios will be showcased.

Furthermore, the connect seminars will run alongside the exhibition on 21st-22nd May and will provide invaluable insights through a series of modules including ‘Overcoming regulatory barriers and accelerating the registration procedure’, ‘Biosimilar development and opportunities’ and ‘Pharmaceutical manufacturing strategies’. They are certainly not to be missed!

What is the expected domestic as well as international participation this year?
This year, CPhI South East Asia will bring together an estimated 5,500 attendees and more than 260 exhibitors from over 50 countries. We expect that this will be the largest show to date.

What are the chances for major collaborations during the event?
As you may have seen throughout the media recently, big pharma players have increasingly begun looking to make moves into pharmerging regions through mergers and acquisitions. With this in mind, there is a lot of opportunity for major collaborations during the event, particularly as the South East Asian market continues to expand, becoming a stronger player across the pharma landscape. During the event, attendees can expect attendance from major companies including Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, GSK, Pfizer and Sandoz to name just a few!

What are your views on Indo -South East Asian pharma trade prospects?
With an aging population, where the number of people aged over 65 is expected to grow dramatically, there is a rising demand for healthcare. In response to this, the government has introduced a universal healthcare system, dedicated to providing healthcare to the entire population. Consequently, there is a big opportunity for India to break into the region and sell drugs. In particular, there is significant potential in the field of generic drugs and ingredients for generics, especially as they begin to penetrate the South East Asian market.

As a result, CPhI South East Asia provides a central setting for both suppliers and buyers, not only from India and South East Asia, but from across the globe, to meet, network and drive the pharmaceutical market.

What was the outcome of the last year's event ?
Last year, CPhI South East Asia was our most successful show to date and every year all of our events cross the globe get bigger and better. The show attracted over 5,550 attendees from 51 separate countries and regions. There were also over 260 exhibitors from countries including USA, China, India, New Zealand, Japan and numerous countries within Europe.

Our co-located events contribute to our success and we are pleased to co-locate with both InnoPack and P-MEC once again.