Ahmedabad: The Chintan Shivir on Scaling Pharma Exports held in Ahmedabad underscored India’s growing global footprint in pharmaceuticals as the country crossed the USD 30 billion export mark.
The interaction, organised under the Chintan Shivir series being taken forward under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focused on accelerating pharmaceutical exports through coordinated action between industry, regulators and policymakers.
Pharmaceutical exports stood at USD 30.47 billion in FY 2024–25, registering a growth of 9.4 per cent over the previous year.
With the sector currently valued at around USD 60 billion and projected to reach USD 130 billion by 2030, the Chintan Shivir on Scaling Pharma Exports highlighted India’s ambition to achieve double-digit export growth in 2026–27.
India ranks third globally by volume, exporting medicines to over 200 markets, with more than 60 per cent of exports going to stringent regulatory markets. The United States accounts for 34 per cent and Europe for 19 per cent of India’s pharmaceutical exports.
Government Emphasises Coordinated Export Expansion
The Chintan Shivir on Scaling Pharma Exports began with a video message from the Commerce Secretary, Department of Commerce, who stressed sustained engagement with exporters and manufacturers, along with timely responses to challenges in regulated markets.
The message reiterated the Prime Minister’s emphasis on strengthening India’s standing as a trusted trade partner and expanding its share in global pharmaceutical markets, ensuring that affordable and high-quality medicines from India continue to reach people worldwide.
The inaugural session saw participation from the Department of Commerce, Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), and the Food and Drugs Control Administration, along with industry stakeholders.
Discussions centred on regulatory processes, export facilitation and policy alignment to support the next phase of sectoral growth, especially for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which face compliance, documentation and inspection-related challenges.
₹10,000 Crore Biopharma SHAKTI Initiative to Boost Domestic Capabilities
A key highlight of the session was the proposed Biopharma SHAKTI initiative announced in the Union Budget 2026–27.
With an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over five years, the initiative aims to strengthen India’s end-to-end ecosystem for biologics and biosimilars, reduce import dependence and enhance competitiveness in global supply chains.
The objective aligns with India’s aspiration to capture 5 per cent of the global biopharmaceutical market share.
In this context, discussions covered the proposal to establish three new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPERs), upgrade seven existing NIPERs, develop over 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites and strengthen CDSCO capacity through the induction of specialised scientific and technical personnel.
Also Read: Biopharma SHAKTI Announced in Union Budget 2026-27 with ₹10,000 Crore Outlay
Industry Dialogues on Scaling Excellence and Market Acceptance
The Chintan Shivir on Scaling Pharma Exports featured panel discussions and thematic sessions examining the export journey from manufacturing discipline to global market acceptance.
Sessions titled “Scaling Excellence through Entrepreneurial Journey,” “From Commodity Supplier to Trusted Global Partner,” “Vriddhi Ka Mantra – Growth Ka Yantra,” and “Scale Up Mantra for Emerging Companies” focused on strategies for the next decade of pharmaceutical exports.
Participants shared practical experiences on strengthening quality systems, ensuring compliance readiness and moving up the value chain while maintaining reliability in cost and supply.
The discussions reflected a broader industry readiness to shift from volume-driven exports to higher-value segments such as biologics, biosimilars and innovation-driven products.
Scaling Pharma Exports: Trade Engagements with Key Global Markets
Exporters were apprised of opportunities emerging from recent trade engagements with key partners, including the European Union and the United States.
Engagement with the European Union was discussed in the context of a USD 572.3 billion pharmaceuticals and medical devices market.
A bilateral trade arrangement with the United States was noted as having the potential to improve market access and price competitiveness for Indian pharmaceutical companies.
A presentation on the activities of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL) and the 12th International Exhibition on Pharma and Healthcare Industry (iPHEX) was delivered, followed by an open interaction with exporters and stakeholders. Around 200 exporters, largely from the western region of India, participated in the programme.
Sustained Engagement for Export Acceleration
The Chintan Shivir on Scaling Pharma Exports concluded with a clear emphasis on faster and more predictable approvals, strengthened regulatory cooperation and enhanced coordination between exporters, regulators and Indian Missions abroad.
