The Centre has approved the formation of Pharmexcil (Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council) with Head Office at Hyderabad and Regional Office at Mumbai vide a letter D.O. No. 5 / 56 / 96-EP (CAP) Part dated 16 January, with a condition that all formalities should be completed by 31 March, 2004. In this connection, the steering committee of Pharmexcil has met on February 12 at Hyderabad to discuss future course of action before the council finally comes into operation on April 1, 2004.

The steering committee members DB Mody of JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals, NH Israni of Blue Cross Laboratories, Venkat Jasti of Suven Life Sciences, K Nityananda Reddy of Aurobindo Pharma, Arun Sawhney of Dr Reddy's Laboratories, Nalvade of Aventis and Executive Committee members of Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association (BDMA), Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI) were present at the meeting.

The members of Steering Committee have unanimously elected a Committee of Administration to take care of initial operations of Pharmexcil comprising of DB Mody as chairman, Venkat Jasti as vice-chairman and another 15 members from various small, medium and large scale pharmaceutical industries. This committee will continue till a formal committee is elected, once Pharmexcil comes into operation.

The government of Andhra Pradesh is actively supporting this council to be set up at Hyderabad by providing monetary and logistic support. The steering committee invited K Vidhyadhar Rao, minister for Major Industries, KV Rao, principal secretary of Department of Industries, government of Andhra Pradesh, LV Subramanyam, vice-chairman and managing director, APIIC for an interactive meeting and appraised them of the activities of Pharmexcil. The AP government has been pro-active and supported the formation of council.

K Vidhyadhar Rao assured that the government of AP will extend all possible assistance for the development of the pharmaceutical industry. He also said that the government is releasing Rs.3 crore towards corpus fund and space in Parishram Bhavan to locate Pharmexcil office in Hyderabad and the government is determined to see that the council starts functioning with effect from April 1, 2004. He also explained to the members about AP government's plans to provide world-class infrastructure for the pharma industry in Pharmacity at Vishakapatnam and for that, allotment of land will take place shortly. Pharmexcil will be formally launched by the chief minister of AP, Nara Chandrababu Naidu, soon.