18th Sellout Edition of CPHI & PMEC India Opens, Uniting 50,000+ Professionals and Global Leaders to Shape the Future of Pharma

New Delhi, 25th November 2024: The sold-out 18th edition of CPHI & PMEC India, organised by Informa Markets in India, opened its doors today at the India Expo Centre, Greater Noida, Delhi-NCR, showcasing the robust potential of India’s pharmaceutical industry. Bringing together over 2,000 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors from more than 120 countries, including China, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and South Korea, the expo serves as a dynamic hub for innovation and collaboration. Spanning pharma machinery, packaging, analytical instruments, lab & analytical equipment, cleanroom technology, laboratory technologies, ingredients, and beyond, it offers a comprehensive platform for stakeholders to engage in transformative dialogues and foster strategic partnerships.

From 2026 onward, CPHI and PMEC India will transition into two specialised shows across two locations on consecutive days—a decision shaped by extensive stakeholder feedback. This shift is designed to give each platform the space, focus, and depth it deserves: CPHI at Dwarka will offer a more premium, content-driven environment, while PMEC at IEML will address scale requirements and provide an optimised experience for machinery and technology exhibitors.

In the current edition, the grand inauguration was graced by an esteemed lineup of industry leaders, policymakers, and global representatives. The distinguished guests included Mr. K. Raja Bhanu, Director General, Pharmexcil; Mr. Harish K Jain, President, FOPE; Mr. Namit Joshi, Chairman, Pharmexcil; Mr. Kaushi Desai, Secretary General, IPEC India and HADSA; Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Expo Mart Limited (IEML); Mr. Satyaprakash TL, Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Government of India; Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India; Sri Ch A P Rameswara Rao, National President, Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association of India; Mr. Anil Matai, Director General, OPPI; Mr. Sudarshan Jain, Secretary-General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance; and Mr. AVPS Chakravarthi, Ambassador, WPO; Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa; Mr. Rahul Deshpande, Sr. Group Director, Informa Markets in India; and Mr. Orhan Caglayan, Executive Vice President – Pharma, Informa Markets B.V; who did the honours, amidst an august industry presence.

Mr. Namit Joshi, Chairman, Pharmexcil, said, “The global pharmaceutical landscape is shifting rapidly, and India must evolve beyond its traditional generics mindset to remain the pharmacy of the world. The future lies in value-driven innovation—advancing capabilities in peptides, complex generics, biosimilars, biologics, targeted drug delivery systems, and cell and gene therapies. Breakthrough classes such as GLP-1 inhibitors are redefining global health outcomes, and Indian manufacturers are already preparing to enter these high-value segments as patents expire. While building scale in these advanced areas will take the next five to six years, many Indian companies have already taken strong steps forward. What theindustry now needs is broader thinking, cross-domain insights, and a more innovation-led approach to strengthen India’s role in shaping the next era of global healthcare.”

Dr. R Chandrashekar Joint Drugs Controller, CDSCO, said “India’s pharmaceutical sector is rapidly shifting from a generics-led foundation to an innovation-driven ecosystem, with growing emphasis on biosimilars, peptides, complex generics, and next-generation biologics. This transition is being accelerated by government and CDSCO reforms such as streamlined approvals, reduced regulatory layers, decriminalisation of non-serious offences, and the recommendation of R&D projects worth ₹5,000 crore. The newly launched Hospital Finance scheme of ₹1,00,000 crore further strengthens the country’s R&D landscape. With these measures, India is well-positioned to evolve from being the pharmacy of the world to an innovation-led pharma nation over the next five years. Platforms like CPHI&PMEC India, which continue to scale and adapt to industry needs, play an important role in supporting this transformation.”

Mr. Anil Matai, Director General, OPPI, said “After firmly establishing itself as the ‘Pharmacy to the World,’ the country is now transitioning toward becoming a true pharma powerhouse. This shift is supported by enabling regulations, improved processes, and a growing emphasis on innovation, stronger intellectual property protection, and the elimination of patent infringements. These reforms reflect the government’s broader vision to ‘discover in India, innovate in India, and innovate for the world,’ and the first steps toward that future are already visible. The next five years will look very different from the last, driven by greater investment in innovation and a deeper commitment to patient-centricity. While isolated quality lapses have occurred, the industry remains focused on strengthening safeguards to ensure such incidents do not recur, protecting both patient trust and India’s global reputation.”

Mr. Harish K Jain, President, FOPE, said “India’s pharma industry is undergoing a major shift from a purely generics-driven model to one rooted in ‘Navachar and Anusandhan’— innovation and research. While the sector includes some of the country’s largest companies, a significant portion comprises MSMEs, and they are equally part of this transformation.

Many MSME members are showcasing their new technologies and innovative products at this exhibition, demonstrating how actively they are contributing to India’s evolving pharma landscape. Over the years, several MSMEs that once started small at CPHI have grown to export to more than 100 countries. This progress reflects the changing direction of the country and the growing strength of India’s innovation-led pharmaceutical ecosystem.”

Highlighting the significance of this year’s CPHI & PMEC India Expo, Mr. Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said, “India’s pharmaceutical sector has achieved remarkable growth, with exports doubling to USD 30 billion and nearly half of global life sciences leaders establishing operations here. We’re witnessing a powerful transformation as India strengthens its footprint across traditional generics, complex formulations, biologics, and advanced therapies. This year’s strong international participation at CPHI & P-MEC India demonstrates global confidence in India’s innovation capabilities. Having reached the pinnacle of success with the show, our strategy of organising separate CPHI and PMEC formats in India will deliver even more focused and impactful conversations, targeting, and more meaningful business journeys.”

The event featured participation from leading exhibitors such as Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd., Hetero Labs Limited, Oceanic Pharmachem Pvt. Ltd., Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Morepen Laboratories Limited, MSN Laboratories Pvt. Ltd., Capsugel Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Biocon Ltd., and Jubilant Ingrevia Ltd. On the machinery side, PMEC India featured top players including ACG Pam Pharma Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Cadmach Machinery Co. Pvt. Ltd., Ace Technologies & Packaging Systems Pvt. Ltd., Parle Global Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Klenzaids Contamination Controls Pvt. Ltd., Gansons Pvt. Ltd., Elmach Packages (India) Pvt. Ltd., Shimadzu India Pvt. Ltd., and Snowbell Machines Pvt. Ltd.

Industry Collaboration and Support

This year, the expo garnered strong support from key industry associations such as Pharmexcil, International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council (IPEC) India, Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association of India (BDMAI), and Organisation of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE) and The Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA) along with participation from regulatory authorities and policymakers.

Unveiling Excellence in Pharma –

Day 1 of the event featured the Pharma Connect Congress, which brought together subject- matter experts to explore critical themes shaping the future of the pharmaceutical ecosystem. Deep-dive sessions on ‘Reimagining innovation and manufacturing to advance transformative and affordable medicines; ‘Supply of medicinal products from India into the EU market, Including regulatory, quality, and logistics requirements; and ‘The Digital Transformation Panel: Think Next- Adopting Technology End-to-End- From Bench to Bedside’ Discussions also highlighted emerging opportunities and challenges in orphan drug manufacturing in India, outlining the strategic roadmap needed to strengthen capabilities in this niche.

The inaugural day also hosted the Closed-door Pharma Leaders’ Roundtable 2025, centred on the theme “Scripting India Pharma 3.0: Capturing Global Opportunities Amid Shifting Dynamics.” The high-level dialogue brought together some of the most influential voices shaping India’s pharmaceutical future. The session was steered by distinguished moderators, Mr. Sriram Shrinivasan, Partner, Bain & Company; Ms. Pushpa Vijayaraghavan, Director, Healthcare & Lifesciences Advisory, Sathguru Management Consultants; and Dr. Hemant Koshia, Former Commissioner, Gujarat FDCA—who guided discussions across regulatory priorities, innovation pathways, and global market shifts. Industry leaders including Mr. Deepak Sapra, Chief Executive Officer (API & Services), Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories; Ms. Priyanka Chigurupati, Executive Director, Granules India; Mr. Shyamakant Giri, Chief Executive Officer, Gland Pharma; Mr. Nikhil Chopra, Chief Executive Officer & Whole-time Director, JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals; Mr. Ajit Singh, Chairman, ACG Worldwide; and Vinay Ranade, Chief Executive Officer, Reliance Life Sciences, shared strategic insights on strengthening India’s position as a global pharma powerhouse. The roundtable reinforced CPHI India’s role as a critical platform for policy-shaping dialogues and industry collaboration.

Further, Day 2 and Day 3 promise a high-level panels that will delve into charting the roadmap to meet sustainability goals and incorporating green design principles in pharma packaging and logistics to reduce carbon footprint, reflecting the industry’s collective vision towards responsible growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.

The Women in Pharma Roundtable will be a key feature of Day 2, bringing focused attention to the expanding participation and influence of women across the pharmaceutical and healthcare landscape. The discussion will revisit significant milestones, address ongoing challenges—including pay equity and leadership representation and explore new avenues for advancement. By highlighting essential leadership traits and aligning with emerging industry shifts, the session aims to motivate and support women pursuing impactful careers in the sector. The day will culminate with the India Pharma Awards 2025, an esteemed platform celebrating innovation, leadership, and excellence within the pharmaceutical industry. This year’s awards will spotlight breakthrough contributions in areas such as R&D, sustainability, and digital transformation, while also honouring distinguished individuals with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Industry Overview

India’s pharmaceutical industry is undergoing a powerful evolution, strengthening its footprint across traditional generics, complex formulations, biologics, APIs, and advanced therapies. Within this broader growth story, the biopharma and biosimilar segment stands out as a key driver of India’s global competitiveness. India’s biopharma manufacturing landscape is gaining strong momentum, emerging as one of the most competitive biosimilar hubs globally. With 98 approved biosimilars—over 50 of which are already commercially available—India now holds the distinction of having the highest number of marketed biosimilars in the world. This progress is supported by the pharmaceutical sector’s wider push toward upgrading R&D capabilities, enhancing manufacturing excellence, modernizing quality systems, and aligning with stringent global regulatory frameworks across markets such as the US, EU, and emerging regions. The biosimilar market alone, currently valued at USD 349 million, is expected to surge to USD 2.1 billion by 2030, reinforcing India’s rising influence in the global biopharma value chain. Coupled with increasing investments in digital transformation, the expansion of Global Capability Centers (GCCs), supportive government policies, and growing healthcare expenditure, India’s pharma industry is moving steadily toward an innovation-driven future—one that blends its traditional strengths with new scientific and technological capabilities to shape the next phase of global pharmaceutical leadership.

A Billion Strong. Celebrating Business. Powering Trillion-Dollar Opportunities

Informa Markets in India celebrates the 6th edition of the Festivity of Business—a 100-day campaign encompassing 28 high-profile events including 16 expos, 5 conferences, and 7 awards shows across the country till the end of the year. In an era of shifting global headwinds, India stands as a strategic engine of growth with 1.4 billion people and an economy projected to reach $5 trillion by 2027. As India’s leading business enabler, Informa Markets in India embodies the essence of relationships and collaboration that also define the country’s vibrant festivals. The Festivity of Business campaign aims to transform exhibitions into celebrations of unlimited potential as it connects visionaries and industry leaders to shape tomorrow’s economic landscape.

About Informa Markets and our business in India

Informa Markets is owned by Informa PLC, a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B Events organizer in the world. Informa Markets in India (formerly UBM India) is India’s leading exhibition organizer, dedicated to help specialist markets and customer communities, domestically and around the world to trade, innovate and grow through exhibitions, digital content & services, and conferences & seminars. Every year, we host over 25 large-scale exhibitions, and 40 conferences, along with industry awards and training across the country: thereby enabling trade across multiple industry verticals. In India, Informa Markets has offices in Mumbai and New Delhi.