The Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council jointly with FICCI is organizing a business development tour to USA and Canada. This tour is primarily aimed at those companies which have already established their export markets in the developing countries and looking for entry to regulated markets. It is also useful for biotech, neutraceuticals manufacturers and clinical trials / contract research organizations. Dr PV Appaji, executive director, Phamexcil and RK Bhatia, deputy director, FICCI will co-ordinate and participate in the tour.

The visit of the delegation would commence with 'India Pharma Forum 2005' at Boston on May 18, 2005 and is coinciding with a two-day conference, 'Bio-Collaborations Asia 2005' being organized by IBC of USA.

Pratyush Sinha, secretary, Department of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, will lead the delegation. The mission would be supported by H F Khorakiwala, vice-president, FICCI and chairman, Wockhardt Ltd and DB Mody, director, J B Chemicals and chairman, Pharmexcil. Experts from Indian pharma industry would be making presentations in the various meetings.

The delegation will be visiting Chicago, Toronto (Canada), and San Francisco, which are hubs of pharmaceuticals activities, between May 22 and 28, 2005. In all these places India Pharma Forum, similar to the one in Boston would be organized. One to one meetings with the US pharmaceutical companies, pharmaceutical associations and regulatory authorities would also be organized.