Huge business opportunities are expected to emerge during iPHEX 2013, touted as India's global pharma show,which will be held from April 24 to 26 at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.

"The event will see the presence of 200 stalls exhibiting Indian pharma and over 5000 business visitors including overseas buyers and 3000 Pharmexcil registered members. Over 400 overseas buyers have been invited with the support of Ministry of Commerce and Industry Government of India. About 60 per cent of stalls belong to SMEs which present a robust, competent and competitive Indian pharma sector," said Dr P V Appaji, director general, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).

Speaking at a press conference he said over 40 senior regulatory officials from 20 countries like Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines and many other countries and Ministry of Health officials are coming for iPHEX-2013. The presence of large number of drug regulators from overseas market will immensely help Pharmexcil and its members to promote the quality and affordabllity aspect as envisaged in Brand India Pharma Campaign. The campaign has been initiated by Ministry of Commerce and executed by Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council in association with IBEF, he added.

"Indian pharma industry would immensely get benefited as there would be over 400 genuine pharma buyers/ drug regulators from various countries and exhibitors would be having one-to-one meetings with them," Dr Appaji said.

"iPHEX is slightly different from other international events held in India. In iPHEX, we are inviting overseas buyers at our cost and organizing one-to-one meeting with the buyers, organising technical conferences where the invited drug regulators will be making presentations about drug regulatory procedures in their respective countries, for the benefit of Indian pharma industry. The unique point of iPHEX is that exhibitors are assured of fixed meetings with invited buyers from overseas countries,"  added Appaji.

Bhavin Mehta, committee chief of iPHEX and CoA member, Pharmexcil said, "iPHEX 2013 will be the biggest industry exposition in India showcasing the diverse range of products and will include formulations, APIs, Ayush, nutraceuticals, health services, biotechnology and biotechnology products, R&D services etc. Technical seminars will be organised where the invited drug regulators will make presentations on drug regulatory procedures of their respective countries. Planned visits also will be organised for the interested drug regulators. iPHEX will be an annual event. Our attempt is to make iPHEX the face of Indian pharma to the global community. We are sure to achieve this over the years."