The 68th edition of the bi-annual event Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Spring 2012 is expected to enhance strategic partnership between China and global pharma players. The event, being held at Hefei between April 25-27, 2012 at the Hefei Bihu International Exhibition Centre, is a great opportunity not just for China to showcase its prowess in bulk drug production but have an understanding of the current global market needs.

Interphex China and PharmChina, being held concurrently, are expos for equipment-machinery and finished drugs respectively.

 The API China, which has over 40 years of history, is being  organised this year along with Interphex by the Hefei’s  People Government. It is  supported by the China Pharmaceutical Industry Association,  China National  Pharmaceutical Packaging Association , China Entry and Exit Inspector and Quarantine Association, and the Label and Printing Sub association, Printing Equipment  Industries Association of China (PEIAC) and Reed Sinopharm  Exhibitions.

The PharmChina event is organized by the Ministry of Commerce, People’s Republic of China, China Association of Pharmaceutical Commerce, China Pharmaceutical Industry Research and Development Association and the China Non-prescription Medicine Association along with the Reed SinoPharm Exhibitions.

“We want to build up the event’s presence globally this year. API Spring mainly covers bulk drugs chemicals and intermediates and excipients. Together with Interphex and PharmChina, the exhibitors and visitors will be able to maximise the platform to spur growth for the future,” stated the organisers.

“The timing could not be better as US and European pharma companies are looking  to see what prospects could stem from trading or partnering with China  despite a sullen  economic environment,” added the  organisers.

“ China has the workforce, production plant infrastructure, strong pool of dynamic entrepreneurs  and the government policy support. We now  need to facilitate closer cooperation between China and the world through this tri-event”, said the organisers.

From a wider perspective, a section of the international industry observers stated that, for the People’s Republic of China, the effort is to increase its API exports and grab orders for contract manufacturing from the API Spring event. It is also scouting to increase the foreign direct investments for formulation development and collaborate for research  which will provide the country a  global footprint.

Moreover, the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao who is already in Europe is a clear sign on the interest to cooperate and transform economic development. Specifically for formulations and research, China is addressing the economies- of-scale for manufacture backed by its strong API capability. It also intends to expand its portfolio in pharmaceuticals with brand development  instead of  solely focusing as a raw material supplier.  In the case of research, it needs new molecules and this is where hand-holding  with global majors is being considered as a relevant and easy to faster growth.

In 2010, as a  standalone API China event at Nanjing, it  attracted 43 countries, 1,300 exhibitors and  30,000 visitors. “ This year, the participation is impressive at Hefei,  the  capital and largest city of Anhui Province in mid-eastern  China which is  located between the Yangtze River, the longest waterway of the country  and the Huaihe River, beside the Chaohu Lake,” said the organisers.