The 18th edition of CPHI & PMEC India, organised by Informa Markets, has opened at the India Expo Centre, spotlighting the growing global clout of India’s pharmaceutical industry. 

 

The event has brought together over 2,000 exhibitors and 50,000 visitors from more than 120 countries, including China, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and South Korea, across sectors ranging from pharma machinery and packaging to lab equipment, cleanroom technology, and ingredients.

 

From 2026, CPHI and PMEC India will evolve into two specialised shows at separate locations on consecutive days, allowing each platform to focus more deeply: CPHI at Dwarka will emphasize premium, content-driven engagement, while PMEC at IEML will cater to scale and technology-oriented exhibitors.

 

The inauguration featured prominent leaders including K. Raja Bhanu, R Chandrashekar, Harish K Jain, Namit Joshi, Kaushik Desai, and Anil Matai, along with government representatives and global stakeholders.

 

Speaking on India’s evolving pharma landscape, 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… many Indian companies have already taken strong steps forward."

 

R Chandrashekar, Joint Drugs Controller, CDSCO, added, "India's pharmaceutical sector is rapidly shifting from a generics-led foundation to an innovation-driven ecosystem… 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."

 

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… The next five years will look very different from the last, driven by greater investment in innovation and a deeper commitment to patient-centricity."

 

Industry voices also highlighted innovation and growth opportunities. Harish K Jain, FOPE, said, "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."

 

Kaushik Desai, IPEC India, projected the sector could scale from a USD 30 billion export market to USD 130 billion by 2030, emphasizing the need for policies that support innovation. Sudish Sukumaran, Emach Packages, highlighted surging demand in specialized packaging, while Sridevi Khambhampaty, Shilpa Biologicals, underscored India’s emerging biologics and biosimilars capabilities.

 

Yogesh Mudras, MD, Informa Markets India, concluded, "This year's strong international participation demonstrates global confidence in India's innovation capabilities… Our strategy of organising separate CPHI and PMEC formats will deliver even more focused and impactful conversations."

 

The expo featured leading pharma and machinery companies including Dr Reddy's, Biocon, Jubilant Ingrevia, ACG Pam, Cadmach, Elmach Packages, and drew support from associations such as Pharmexcil, IPEC India, BDMAI, OPPI, FOPE, and regulators, cementing India’s role as a global pharma innovation hub.