The Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical Industries (CIPI) will be sending a 20-member delegation to China to study the manufacturing conditions in China before signing the proposed MoU with Chinese Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (CPMA).

The delegation would be visiting China during the Nanjing API China show, so that the delegates can view the show as well as undertake the study there. Once the team has been selected Pharmaexcil will be approached so that some benefits can be gathered for the team members.

According to T S Jaishankar, chairman of CIPI, the agreement was taking a positive shape now as initially some communication problems persisted. There was some confusion related to whether the CPMA was a national body or a body representing the state. So the team will understand all these and the discussions would be held with the aid of an interpreter.

The MoU will involve efforts to increase investment in both the countries, trade delegations to India and vice versa, joint ventures, joint research possibilities and technology transfer, mutual market development etc. "The MoU will concentrate on joint R&D work, ANDA submission and methods of getting into regulated markets," said Jaishankar.

India would also provide China with API's at a subsidized rate after the agreement has been signed. CIPI would also guide the Chinese companies on how to register their products in the Indian market. "The procedure of getting the products registered is too complicated, hence many Chinese companies are hesitating to register their products here. So we would help them by giving guidance," he said.

According to him the Chinese were keen to know the progress India made in the field of drugs, especially drug research. Though China had huge API capacities, most were under utilized. Further, they had neglected the importance of drug research, which is now worrying them. The MoU will involve mutually beneficial co-operation in the areas where India and China have strength.