The Chilean Government is opening its doors to Indian pharmaceutical industry to be part of its national healthcare programme worth US $ 1 billion. The government is looking for joint ventures between Indian and Chilean companies for a greater availability of Indian products in the Chilean market and enhanced trade flows between India and Chile.

As a first step, the Chilean health ministry, in association with the Indian Embassy in Santiago, is organizing a seminar on "Indian Pharmaceutical Industry: Opportunities for Chile's Health and Pharma Sectors" in Santiago on June 27 to 29, 2005. The Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) is in the process of enrolling its members to be part of the delegation.

According to Dr P V Appaji, executive director, Pharmexcil, the ministry of commerce and industry is considering to include this event in MDA Programme. In that case, the participants of this programme are likely to get travel reimbursements also. Pharmexcil has urged its members to be part of the proposed seminar to understand the Chilean Pharmaceutical market and avail the export opportunities. The Chilean participants in the seminar include public health system authorities, representatives of the local pharma industry, the various pharmacy chains, the medical profession, chemists and other healthcare providers.

The topics to be covered in the seminar are regulatory framework in Chile and auction of pharmaceutical products and supplies in the pharmaceutical industries, general view of Indian pharmaceutical industry, Chilean pharmaceutical industry and their articulation with World Pharmaceutical Industry, Quality Control System in Indian Pharmaceutical Industries and Quality standards for supplying to foreign markets, ayurvedic medicine, patents etc. Business meetings with Indian and Chilean Pharmaceutical industry would also take place.