During the recent high level Indian trade delegation to Colombo led by Minister Sharma, India announced that a special Indian pharmaceutical delegation will be arriving on August 14/15 in Colombo to set up the proposed pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Sri Lanka.

“Our government warmly welcomes this delegation and is ready to provide all the support needed. The arrival of pharma hub delegation from India in such a short period shows Minister Sharma’s sincerity to implement the proposed pharma hub in Sri Lanka and to increase bilateral trade levels,” Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said.

In addition to this delegation, another team of reps from 20 Indian pharma firms are also arriving to take part in the forthcoming Arogya 2012 international healthcare exhibition to be held from August 17 to 19 at BMICH.

The Indian Pharmexcil led delegation has strategically timed the visit to coincide with Arogya 2012 at BMICH, showing their keenness on implementation of the pharma hub without delay.

It is also reliably understood that according to Dr. P. V. Appaji that this initiative, “for the time being is just specific and focused only on Sri Lanka as per Union Minister Sharma’s directive.”

Among the Indian pharma industry reps are Ranjit Puranik (Executive Director-Shree Dhootapapeshwar Ltd., manufacturing and marketing Ayurvedic formulations for 125 years), Dr. P.P. Lal Krishna (Chief Executive Officer of the $800 million revenue Ramky Pharma City (India) Ltd., the diversified firm which also has India’s largest environmental and waste management company under it), Sridhar (Stedman Pharma Pvt. Ltd.), Anil Toliya (Vidhi Bulk Drugs/ Toliya Group) and reps from such firms as J B Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Ltd., ACG Worldwide Group and NATCO Pharma Ltd.