Pharmexcil is planning to send an international herbal trade delegation to Russia, Ukraine and Kazakstan in October after participation in the Apteka Pharma exhibition scheduled from 24th - 27th October 2006 at Moscow.

This event is approved by the Ministry under the activities for 2006-07. The delegation will focus on meeting local Government officials and distributors who are interested in partnering with herbal companies.

Meanwhile, a one-day conference on Ayurveda and Medicinal Plants at Dehradun has also been conducted on Friday, where officials from Pharmexcil, APEDA, Shellac, Department of AYUSH and National Medicinal Plants Board took part and took note on the latest developments in the sector and challenges.

This comes at a moment when the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India is keen to boost herbal and medicinal plants sector and has identified Uttaranchal and Kerala as future hubs. National Medicinal Plants Board is striving to develop medicinal plants and value added products segment.

According to Pharmexcil officials, several Malaysian herbal product companies are interested to establish collaborations with Indian counterparts.