The 18th edition of CPHI & PMEC India, organized by Informa Markets in India, concluded recently, signaling a clear transformation underway in India’s pharmaceutical landscape. With strong participation from senior industry executives, policymakers, and international delegates, the event highlighted a shared industry view that Indian pharma is moving beyond a high-volume generics focus toward an innovation-oriented, value-based growth model.
CPHI & PMEC India 2025 hosted more than 2,000 exhibitors and attracted over 50,000 attendees from upwards of 120 countries, including China, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and South Korea. The scale and diversity of participation reinforced the event’s position as a global meeting point for pharmaceutical ingredients, processing machinery, packaging, and laboratory technologies. Discussions throughout the exhibition emphasized India’s strategic shift toward self-reliance, complex and specialty generics, and innovation-led global expansion—marking a departure from purely volume-driven growth.
Raminder Singh Matta and Hitesh Kathpalia, Directors at JASCO Paper Products, highlighted the evolving role of packaging in the pharmaceutical and allied sectors. “Jasco operates across pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, and with the launch of our Jesco Pro Pack division, we now serve luxury, FMCG, and cosmetics as well. India’s packaging market, currently valued at around USD 4.5 billion, is expected to grow to USD 7.11 billion by 2034, driven by demand for premium, sustainable, and aesthetically refined solutions. Today, we supply multinational customers in North America and the Middle East, and at CPHI & PMEC India 2025, we introduced our new recyclable cardboard packaging portfolio aligned with global sustainability standards,” they said.
Satish Mahanti, President – Global API Sales, Marketing and Business Development at Hetero, pointed to rising global demand for high-value APIs, antiretrovirals, and oncology products. “Increased R&D investment and growing focus on oncology and lifestyle-related diseases are driving more new chemical entity approvals. India is strengthening its position as a reliable global supplier through continued investment in complex generics, biologics, and specialty products. Regulatory frameworks in the US and EU are becoming more aligned and predictable, and Indian manufacturers have adapted swiftly. Technologies such as automation, continuous manufacturing, and green chemistry will play a key role in improving efficiency, although scaling remains a challenge. Over the next five years, Asia—growing at nearly 9 percent—will present the most attractive export opportunity for Indian pharma.”
Avneet Singh Setia, Director – Marketing at IM Healthcare, spoke about the rapid expansion of India’s nutraceutical sector. “India remains a global leader in pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals are now among its fastest-growing segments. The market is expected to grow at an 8 percent CAGR between 2025 and 2030, driven by a young population, rising incomes, and greater health awareness. Gummies, Ayurveda-based formulations, and clean-label products are gaining strong acceptance. We currently export to over 15 countries and aim to reach more than 35 markets by 2030. Demand for vegan and sugar-free options is accelerating, with the gummies segment alone projected to grow at 17–18 percent annually, reflecting a broader shift toward preventive and wellness-focused healthcare.”
Dr Sridevi Khambhampaty, CEO of Shilpa Biologicals, addressed developments in biologics and biosimilars. “The biologics space is entering a dynamic phase as regulatory authorities in Europe and the US relax biosimilar requirements, including waivers for Phase 3 trials. This significantly lowers entry barriers for Indian companies and speeds up development timelines. Over the past decade, India’s biologics sector has matured and is now prepared to move into innovative biologics. At Shilpa Biologicals, we are building partnerships in Switzerland and the US to introduce novel biologics while strengthening our biosimilar portfolio. We plan to add more than six biosimilar products over the next four years. While competition exists, biopharma remains a specialized domain requiring substantial investment and expertise.”
