With a view to encourage exports of medical devices, the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is organising a high level global buyer-seller meet (BSM) from March 23 to 24 at AMA in Ahmedabad. This is the first time that Pharmexcil is organising an event focused on attracting and boosting investment opportunities for this niche but highly competitive sector.

To have a greater presence and impact, Pharmaexcil will be holding this BSM on the sidelines of the two-day national event called Indian Medical Devices & Plastic Disposables Industry 2012, conducted annually in Gujarat. The strategy behind this is to ensure that the BSM gets maximum exposure for potential business partnerships from the interested parties.

Pharmexcil pointed out that India has a huge potential for medical devices which includes surgicals, diagnostic kits, etc., that can be further developed with proper government incentives and provisions. Dr P V Appaji, executive director, Pharmexcil stressed that it will be a great opportunity for all the Pharmexcil members, as it will provide a perfect platform for all the participants to actively indulge in the process of knowledge sharing and networking with the other industry members.

Dr Appaji said, “Considering the rate at which the medical device sector is growing in the country, we estimate that it has a very good potential to establish itself in the international market, thus being a good source of export revenue for the country. Through this event, our main aim is to provide a platform for the industry to come forward and have an interactive dialogue with each other. But most importantly, we want them to be sensitised about the provisions that the government has specifically drafted for encouraging exports in the country.”

At present, Pharmexcil has about 250 members in the council representing the medical device sector. Delegates from countries like Turkey, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Russia, Armenia and Bangladesh will be participating in this BSM, where they will get a chance to have one to one meetings with their Indian counterparts.

Dr Appaji informed that the government will be providing special incentives to all its participating members to encourage exports. Further he added that it will be a win-win situation for all the delegates as this event will provide them with perfect opportunity to not only do networking but also to be present at the focal point of discussions where many issues with FDA, ministry of health  and other procurement agencies will take place.