New Delhi: The 18th edition of CPHI & PMEC India, organised by Informa Markets in India, commenced 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 served 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; Dr. R Chandrashekar, Joint Drugs Controller, CDSCO; Mr. Harish K Jain, President, FOPE; Mr. Namit Joshi, Chairman, Pharmexcil; Mr. Kaushik Desai, Secretary General, IPEC India and HADSA; Mr. Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Expo Mart Limited (IEML); Mr. Satyaprakash TL, Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt of India; Dr. Jitendra Kumar, Managing Director, BIRAC, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India; Sri Ch A P Rameswara Rao, National President, BDMAI; 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 Markets in India; 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.
Speaking at the event Mr. Namit Joshi, Chairman, Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (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 the industry 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, The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (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.”