With a view to sensitise the world about the potential of the Indian pharma industry, the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) today organised a high profile interaction with the industry, regulators from India and overseas along with the media across the world, during the second day of the three-day event, iPHEX 2013 co-located with Pharma Pro & Pack Expo 2013.

The event that was flagged off in Mumbai yesterday saw a lot of interactive sessions and business meetings that pointed out to growing potential of this industry at the global arena. One of the main highlights of the meeting today was keen interest shown by the global media to understand and witness the growth story of the Indian pharma sector. Top Indian regulators along with their counterparts from the overseas market were also present to listen to concerns and issues faced by the industry.

According to Dr P V Appaji, this meeting was specifically arranged by the council to develop a confidence building measure with the media as they play a very important role in representing the industry at all levels. He added, “The growth and the expansion of any sector to a great extent depend on the way it is perceived and represented by the media. One of the main reasons why we had decided to have this meeting today at this podium where top representatives from pharma industry from across the world are present along with the regulators, is to show the true potential the Indian made drugs have.”

Further he added that this meeting is also aimed at sensitising the media and overseas regulators on the commitment the Indian regulators and the government have towards safeguarding the life and health of the patients not just in India but also globally. “We want to ensure that the Indian regulatory body is as committed as any other top regulators across the world to ensure availability of high quality affordable medicines to the patients across the world. All the steps are taken to ensure stringent approach towards maintaining high standard of drugs that are manufactures in India,” he added.

He further stated that the government is very keen on appeasing the baseless fear among some countries over the efficacy of the dugs made in the country, and reinstated that all drugs in the country are manufactured as per the the law to ensure safety of the patients consuming it. Dr Appaji also urged them to not fall for rumours that are aimed at maligning the image of the Indian pharma industry which plays a major role in providing affordable lifesaving drugs across the globe.

Following this there was also meeting among the top drug regulators from across the globe along with the Indian drug manufactures that focused on the untapped export potential of the country, while addressing the regulatory issues affecting exports. Exhibitors at the event expressed their huge satisfaction stating that they have been able to garner a lot of response from the overseas exhibitors and visitors for exploiting new business ventures with the Indian drug exporters.

Speaking about the importance of such events, Chakravarthi AVPS, CEO and managing director of Ecobliss India, an Indo-Dutch joint venture company, stressed that the pharma industry is a highly in demand sector when compared to other sectors thus one needs to be literally on his toes to constantly serve to the customer satisfaction. “We need to update the technologies on real time basis; in addition to that we also need to supply packaging for a highly complex US and regulatory market sales at affordable prices, not compromising on quality. Thus, to develop a better understanding of the regulatory requirements essential for boosting exports, events like iPHEX is much needed as this will not only help bolstering the confidence of the Indian industry but also will help in putting us in the world map,” added Chakravarthi who is also the chairman of the Indian Institute of Packaging, Hyderabad.

According to Dr Gopakumar G Nair, CEO and principal patent attorney of the Gopakumar Nair Associates, this event gives a tremendous opportunity for the Indian manufacturers exporting to overseas market to have an exclusive chance to interact with the overseas regulators and prospective buyers to pave way for a symbiotic and strategic business relation in future which is in accordance with the regulatory norms of the importing countries. The most important and glaring factor is the direct involvement of the commerce ministry in this venture, which is clearly aimed at settling any doubts or insecurities that overseas buyers or regulators may have about the Indian made drugs, cited Dr Nair.

Senior regulators from 20 countries like US, Europe, Ghana, Tanzania, Senegal, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippine, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Seychelles, Uganda, Belaru, Haiti, Cuba, Dominic Republic, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe were present at this two major events today.