Pharmexcil has planned a high level delegation to Hungary, Poland and Slovakia from July 2 - 9, 2006.

This delegation is proposed on the basis of suggestions and invitations received from the Indian Missions in these countries. Satwant Reddy, secretary, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Government of India, will lead this delegation. G S Sandhu, joint secretary, Department of Chemicals is also likely to join the delegation, informed Pharmexcil sources.

Indian pharmaceutical exports to Poland in 2002-03 stood at Rs 68.59 crore which raised significantly to Rs 84.43 crore in 2003-04. There has been a marginal increase in exports to the region with Rs 88.65 crore in 2004-05. During April 2005 and February 2006, the exports accounted to Rs 75.12 crore.

Exports to Hungary were at Rs 37.61 crore during 2002-03, which increased to Rs 92.44 crore in 2003-04. During 2004-05, exports to Hungary accounted to Rs 77.37 crore and between April 2005 and February, 2006, the exports stood at Rs 58.37 crore.

Slovakia Republic, comparatively a smaller market, is also emerging as one of the key export destinations for Indian pharma companies. The exports to Slovakia had been at Rs 6.01 crore in 2002-03, which increased to Rs 26.15 crore in 2003-04. Exports reduced to Rs 16.27 crore in 2004-05 and during April 2005 and February 2006, Indian pharma industry registered exports up to Rs 13.21 crore.

Along with senior officials from Department of Chemicals, DB Mody, chairman, Pharmexcil will also participate in the delegation. In view of the huge opportunities available for promoting pharma exports to these countries, Pharmexcil is making efforts for organizing buyer seller meetings (BSMs).

Since Europe does not fall under focus areas identified for assistance, MDA is not available for the participants. Due to the raising health care costs in Europe, many European countries are looking for sourcing generic medicines of good quality from Indian companies. It is also reflected from the fact that Indian pharma exports to Europe constitute about 30 per cent of total exports, which is the highest to any region, said sources.