The Indian Pharma Machinery Manufacturer's Association (IPMMA) is in talks with several European and US organisations to facilitate technical support to its members on the latest innovations in the pharma machinery manufacturing industry.

Despite the rapid growth of pharmaceutical industry in the country, the pharma machinery manufacturing industry continues to be in an infant stage. The industry with a sales of Rs 2000 crore, is facing issues like prolonged delivery period and poor automation. The IPMMA's move for tie-ups with overseas associations such as International Society for Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE) and American Pharmacists Association is envisaged to support its members to meet these challenges.

The proposed tie-up will help the domestic companies to get an idea about the latest innovations in the industry. The associations will organise seminars on various topics related to pharmaceutical engineering, as the part of this agenda.

Talking to Pharmabiz IPMMA president Ratan Singhania said, "The pharma machinery manufacturing industry has tremendous scope in the export market. But at the same there is need for improvements in areas like automation and electronic control. The tie-up with overseas associations will help the companies to address these challenges and will also provide them information on the latest innovations in the industry."

The association is planning to organise more seminars in association with the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) to provide information on banking sector and safety standards. The Pakistan governments' move to lift the trade embargo fully will register an increase in the export of pharmaceutical machines, Ratan Singhania said. The trade embargo imposed by the Pakistan government over India has been relaxed in the last two years.

The IPMMA is also pursuing the union government to include pharma equipments in the bilateral trade agreement with a group of Latin American countries, including Brazil. The pharma machinery exports will shoot up five to ten per cent, once move is materialized, Singhania added.