The first international pharmaceutical exhibition, ''Asia Pharma Expo 2003'' organized by the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industry (BAPI) will be held in February 2003 at Dhaka. According to S. M. Shafiuzzaman, president, BAPI, the exhibition would feature the latest on machinery, bulk drugs, analytical instruments and information technology for pharmaceutical industry.

BAPI is the apex and trade promotion body with more than 200 pharma formulators as members who are responsible for 97 per cent of pharmaceutical production of Bangladesh. With this event, the Association looks forward to attract pharma and allied sectors from Asia to join hands with the rapidly growing pharma industry of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, which is even exporting its formulations to 27 countries besides meeting the local requirement, has all the potential to become a major global source of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Based on the Doha declaration, the country will also be able to produce drugs until 2016, which are still under patent protection. This will require participation from many local as well as foreign companies where every stakeholder will benefit of vast potential that Bangladesh can offer. The local entrepreneurs are capable and willing to invest and collaborate with suitable foreign partners to further develop the existing capabilities.