FPME Annual Conclave - 2024 deliberates global supply chain resilience and quality excellence through collaborations

 

The pharmaceutical export community gathered in Mumbai for the highly anticipated event, "Know Your Value," centred on the critical roles of the Government, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), and Customs in facilitating pharmaceutical exports across resilient global supply chains. The event, organized by the Federation of Pharmaceutical and Allied Products Merchant Exporters (FPME), featured a robust agenda, a CEO panel discussion, and an awards ceremony. It also included a Motivational Session by Arun Sehgal, managing director, Chempro Group.

President of FPME and Director of MT Madon Exports Pvt Ltd Kamlesh Shah was also felicitated for completing 50 years in pharma exports business.

Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, former Rajya Sabha MP and vice-chairman of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the need for streamlined regulatory processes to bolster pharma exports. Paresh Mehta, regional chairman (WR) of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), highlighted the significant contributions of merchant exporters to India's economy.

“The DGFT has been playing a pivotal role in enhancing India's trade capabilities through targeted schemes like the Advance Authorisation Scheme (AAS), the Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme, the Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP) refund duties incurred during manufacturing, such as electricity or embedded taxes. This ensures that Indian products are priced competitively in global markets”, stated deputy DGFT Vishwajeet G Chimankar.

The event included an in-depth discussion on government schemes, with inputs from Jayant Kumar, Deputy Drugs Controller (West Zone 2), CDSCO), and Kaushal Thakker, managing director of Harish & Company Pvt. Ltd. Topics included regulatory compliance and logistics optimization for pharma exports.

The CEO roundtable addressed crucial themes such as manufacturing challenges, global logistics, regulatory compliance, and the future prospects of the pharmaceutical industry. Panelists included Harish Jain, director, Embiotic Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, Dr. Ramaswamy Lakshmanan, chairman, Sotax India Pvt. Ltd, Ramesh Rughani, chairman & MD, Khyati Global Ventures Ltd, Ashish Vora, founder & chairman, Prime Pharma Pvt. Ltd.

Dr. Ramaswamy Lakshmanan remarked, "The resilience of India's pharmaceutical export supply chain lies in the collaboration of stakeholders, from regulators to exporters. Initiatives like this not only elevate standards but also inspire collective action towards global healthcare objectives."

FPME highlighted its commitment to supporting over 500 SME pharma companies involved in exports, seeking certifications in collaboration with the stakeholders.

 FPME's leadership, including Sandeep Modi and Dharmesh Kharwar, joint secretary, conducted the proceedings. In his vote of thanks, Kharwar expressed gratitude to all participants, stating, "The success of this event is a testament to our collective vision for advancing India's position as a global pharmaceutical leader."

FPME expressed optimism about working closely with regulatory bodies like DGFT, CDSCO, and Customs. These partnerships aim to ensure rigorous auditing, post-audit inspections, and targeted training to enhance product quality and supply chain resilience. The event served as a milestone in fostering collaboration across stakeholders, reflecting India’s growing influence in the global pharmaceutical landscape.