An 11-member drug industry mission from Mexico, facilitated by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is exploring business opportunities in India. The delegation is having interactions with leading domestic companies, research institutions and government departments.

The delegation is keen to explore opportunities in contract manufacturing, contract research, product development and clinical trials, collaborative research, custom synthesis and licensing of new molecules, remarked Ambassador Granguillhome, Mexican Ambassador to India. The Mexican pharma industry would be benefited by expertise of the Indian generic players, who would be able to provide the generic drugs at affordable costs, he added.

According to Ernesto Enriquez Rubio, Federal Commissioner of COFEPRIS, Mexico, the visit of the delegation would certainly provide Indian players to take a close look at the emerging Mexican market. The Mexican pharmaceutical market is expected to grow significantly in the next few years with the government tightening up regulations relating to generics and the improving economic conditions. COFEPRIS is a newly created federal commission in charge of sanitary risk protection.

The mission is visiting leading pharma houses in India like Strides Arcolab Ltd, Biocon, CIPLA, Wockhardt, Shantha Biotechnics Ltd,Auobindo Pharma Ltd, Nicholas Piramal Ltd, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Serum Institute of India Ltd, Ranbaxy Laboratories and premier research institutions like Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and IGIB.

They are also meeting with government officials from the ministry of chemicals and fertilisers, ministry of commerce and industry, and ministry of health, Dept of Biotechnology.