The second international Healthcare Herbal Products Expo 2004, organized by ZAK Trade Fairs and Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd., will be held in Chennai from 19-21, November 2004.

The expo, to be conducted at the Chennai Trade Centre, is planned as a one-stop shop for herbal healthcare industry, and will have participation of numerous herbal drug companies and experts in the field. Thalaivi Sundaram, minister of health of Government of Tamil Nadu will inaugurate the expo and Tara Dutt, joint secretary (Ayush), Government of India, will release the expo directory.

Guest lectures are also organized as part of the exhibition. Ranjana Kumar, chairperson, NABARD, Dr. P T Chacko, chief medical officer, Sanjeevanam of Cholayil group, Dr. K Murugesan, Centre for Advanced Study in Botany, University of Madras on the topic studies on the agro techniques, phytochemistry and pharmacognosy of philanthus amarus, Dr. S K Grover, scientist, Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Jayaraman, Director of Research, Coffee Board, Bangalore etc. will speak on the opening day. On the second day, the guest speakers include Dr. K Baskaran, Commissioner for Horticulture and Plantation Crops, Government of Tamil Nadu on the theme 'medicinal plants and its potentials in Tamil Nadu: plans and prospects, Director, Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society, Dr. Rangesh Parmesh, Himalaya drug Co., Bangalore etc.

The main speakers on the final day include Dr. K E M Nambudiry, advisor (R&D) Cavincare Ltd, on the topic plant product prospects and a way forward, Dr. T Ramaswamy, director, CLRI, Chennai, Dr. R Subramanian of ZAK Trade Fairs, etc.

M F Farooqui, chairman & special commissioner, Department of Indian Systems of Medicine, Government of Tamil Nadu will take part in the valedictory function, informed the sources.