The expo, which features a total of 96 stalls, including 25 stalls of local manufacturers, 30 distributors, 40 Indian companies and a Chinese company, is targeting industrialists, pharmaceutical producers and pharmacy students, according to Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal (APPON) - the organizer of the event.[break]
Local participants at the expo said they would be using the event to disseminate information about domestic products. Other participants said they would use the expo to introduce new technology and provide information on the latest advancements in pharmaceutical industry.
Most of the stalls are showcasing manufacturing equipment, packaging materials and machineries, chemicals, bulk drugs, environmental control equipment (AHU/HVAC), laboratory equipment, analytical laboratory service and supplies and pharma related services.
Among others, the expo focuses on enhancing knowledge sharing with various scientific presentations and brainstorming sessions on latest advancements in medical and pharmaceutical fraternity.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, pharmaceutical manufacturers urged the government to create favorable investment and manufacturing environment in the country and provide policy support so as to encourage exports of Nepali medicines.
"Nepali medicines are of international standards and can compete with any international brands. We just want the government to create environment conducive so that we can export our products to the international market,” Mahesh Gorkhali, president of APPON.
The expo aims to cater to the Nepali medicine industry, which is worth Rs 16 billion and is growing at an annual rate of 18 to 20 percent.
“With proper business doing environment and adoption of new technologies adoption that sector can grow further,” Gorkhali added.
A total of 13,000 brands of medicines have been registered with the Department for Drug Administration (DoDA) so far.
Though some of the manufacturers have long been ventilating the idea of exporting their products, they are yet to make visible progress.
"To support this industry, the government must make new policy because existing policy does not encourage exports," said Pradeep Jung Pandey, vice-president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Responding to the entrepreneurs, Prabin Mishra, secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population, said the government was ready to change the policy and make rules and regulations favorable for the growth of the industry. “We are already in the process of making new policy, which will be implemented soon and I hope it will solve the existing problems in the sector,” said Mishra.
During the program, APPON facilitated Bhupendra Bahadur Thapa, chief drug controller and Pradip Man Vaidya, founder president of APPON.
APPON is organizing the event in association with Graduate Pharmacists´ Association of Nepal (GPAN) and Nepal Pharmaceutical Association (NPA). The entry fee for the event has been fixed at Rs 50 for general visitors and Rs 25 for students. The organizers are expecting 25,000 visitors during the expo.
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