Pharma Pro Pack Expo(PPPE) 2013 will be organised by Indian Pharma Machinery Manufacturers Association (IPMMA) under the Brand India Pharma Campaign. Tell us the reason behind this?
| Rajesh Shah |
The basic reason is to promote ‘Brand India.’ Indian pharmaceutical machinery manufacturers have earned the reputation of being the hub for low-cost manufacturing of machines. The reasons behind this is the availability of cost-efficient man power, highly skilled and experienced engineers and low capital investment on plant and machinery. India has also shown remarkable progress in the growth in up-gradation and advancement of technology in machinery. Today, the country is in the forefront to offer value added engineering with integration of new technologies. Many foreign companies find it cost effective to work in the form of collaborative ventures with Indian partners. The number of joint ventures (JVs) between international and Indian machinery manufacturers is a proof of the fact that the Indian manufactures of machineries understands the stringent needs of pharma industry. Indian manufacturers can now produce international quality at affordable prices. It is significant to note that India is making machines which are 10-20 times less expensive than machines produced in the US and Europe. Now the time has come to unleash ‘Brand India’ so that all small, medium and big Indian machinery manufacturers can further consolidate their position in the world market.
This year the expo is co-located with Indian Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare Expo (iPHEX) 2013. How will the participants benefit from this?
Cooperation in any venture brings in benefits for all the stakeholders. By co-locating the iPHEX within the Pharma Pro&Pack Expo 2013 there will be several benefits not only for IPMMA and iPHEX2013 but for all the participants, exhibitors, visitors, business delegates and all others associated with the pharma industry. In this modern fast paced world, time is money and when you save time you save money. By co-locating exhibitions, everybody is going to save on time and money. Also in the coming days, we will try to have more such cooperation and JVs between IPMMA and Pharmexcil.
What will be the agenda for this year?
The agenda for this year’s Pharma Pro&Pack Expo 2013 can be summed up in just two words – Promote Brand India. We are hopeful and optimistic that PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo 2013 will provide an ideal platform to all small, medium and big pharma machinery manufacturers of India who have beyond doubt proved to be the backbone of the growth witnessed by the pharma industry in India and across the world. Very fortunately the Indian pharma machinery manufacturers have a unique advantage. Not only do they have to cater to the needs of the rapidly growing pharma industry at home but they also have to supply their machineries to the expanding pharma markets of the world.
How many exhibitors are expected? Which sectors will be associating with the event and how beneficial will it be?
The exhibition, PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo 2013, will be a mega platform where more than 4,000 products and services will be displayed on total pharma manufacturing by more than 200 exhibiting companies of all segments from 16 countries. PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo 2013 exhibition will be offering unparalleled opportunity for live demo of machineries and latest technologies and also at the same time, an outstanding business networking environment to establish and revise the business relationships. Truly, the PPPE 2013 provides the best opportunity to meet existing customers, revive industry contacts and also for exploring new prospects through business meetings.
Almost all the sectors of the Indian pharma industry are associated with this event. Exhibitors’ profile of the PHARMA Pro&Pack Expo2013, Mumbai exhibition includes manufacturers, exporters and suppliers of pharma processing and packaging machineries and materials, utility products and services, analytical lab equipments and consumables, environment control products and services, water management, and consultants and turnkey contractors. The large scale participation from different sectors is evidence to the fact that such expos do help in almost all sort of business activities and add value to participating and visiting individuals, companies, corporations and business houses. Such expos lead to consolidation of the market, widen geographic reach of products and services and also strengthen distribution network and enhances knowledge of technological advancements undertaken in different sectors.
Being the president of the event what are your responsibilities?
As the president I can only say that today the Indian pharma machinery manufacturers provides the pharma industry, machineries at a price almost one third or one fourth of the imported technology for the same products and same capacity, which is a basic advantage. Hence, people look at Indian market for machineries. The pharma machinery industry is growing 15-20 per cent annually. The manufacturing facilities in India are being upgraded to the International standards of the regulated markets. Today, India has the highest number of FDA approved facilities outside US. So my responsibility is to ensure that the Indian pharma machinery manufacturers become the agents of ‘Brand India’ in true sense of the word. Time has come for India to leverage on its strength and I think this just not my responsibility but a collective responsibility of all of us.
What are the challenges you faced while organising the event?
IPMMA has a very dedicated team of office bearers who are prepared to burn the midnight oil when the demand arises. A large number of people have worked round the clock to make a success of the event.All of them deserve equal credit for converting a dream of this magnitude into reality. As far as the challenges are concerned, we can only say that there is no challenge more challenging than the challenge to improve yourself.
Tell us more about the conference and why do you think participants would be eager to attend it?
As global pharma companies’ scout and scan for new growth and development opportunities over the next one decade, a realisation seems to have dawned that perhaps the most promising of the opportunities, openings and prospects are to be found not in the developed nations but in the emerging economies of the world. It is in this scenario that the conference gets added significance. And it is also because of the rising stature and importance of India in the world that the participants from across the globe have shown their eagerness in the right earnest to attend this ‘must attend’ meet.
What message would you like to share with the industry?
My only message to the industry is to seize the opportunity. The growth in advancement and up-gradation of technology in machinery has been faster in India. With almost low technology offerings in the initial stage, the Indian machinery today is considered as one that can offer value added engineering with integration of new technologies. Various international companies have found it cost effective to work with Indian partners in the form of collaborative ventures. The increasing number of JVs between foreign and Indian machinery manufacturers is a testimony to the fact that the Indian machinery industry understands the stringent need of pharma industry and that it can produce international quality at affordable prices. Indian pharma machine makers and their Western counterparts increasingly are exploring collaborations and partnerships with each other to innovate or share new technology. Together, they are targeting more price conscious developing countries. I can only end with this that the Indian pharma machinery manufacturers are standing at a cusp where a challenge is an opportunity to prove your ability to yourself and others.