In a bid to give a big push to exports to the Japanese market, the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is looking forward to ink a pact with the drug regulatory agency of Japan, the Pharmaceutical Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). Through this initiative, the Council hopes to develop and strengthen the relations between the Indian drug regulatory agency, CDSCO and PMDA.

It is understood that the Council has already requested the drug controller general of India to assist and work with the commerce ministry to take up this matter. The move is also aimed on addressing all the regulatory concerns faced by the Japanese counterparts and to show the prowess of the Indian drug regulatory system.

Apart from focusing on strengthening ties with the drug regulators of Japan, Pharmexcil is also keenly looking into the possibilities of entering into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Japan's largest and most read daily newspaper in the field, Chemical Daily.

Interestingly, the council plans to woe the Japanese public by sensitising them and informing them about the important role that the Indian manufacturers play in making high quality affordable drugs to patients across the globe. "Japan is a market with considerable opportunities to explore, given the current market environment we should act upon to utilize and turn the tides in our direction. These ventures will not only help boost the exports to Japan, but will also help in raising the brand India value in a lucrative market like Japan. We are happy that the commerce ministry is helping Pharmexcil to take the matters ahead and clearly monitoring the process," informed Dr P V Appaji, director general of Pharmexcil.

The Council under the MoU is seeking step up collaborative measures like strengthening the image of Indian pharma industry in the Japanese market by way of interviews with the CEOs and other top executives from the Indian pharma industry. "What we aim to achieve is sensitize the Japanese regulators, government, industry members, scientific community about the capabilities of Indian pharma companies. For this we will be arranging numerous visits of reporters from Chemical Daily to Indian pharma companies and their manufacturing facilities. This will help them in understanding and getting first hand experience of the highest standard maintained by the Indian companies while manufacturing drugs for export as well as domestic use," Dr Appaji added.