Pharma industry leaders spotlight quality, sustainability & market diversification as export priorities for 2026

New Delhi: The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) convened its 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) on December 29, 2025, marking a significant milestone in India’s pharmaceutical export journey.

The deliberations reflected the sector’s strategic shift from volume-led expansion toward value-driven, innovation-focused, and sustainability-led manufacturing.

Discussions at the AGM underscored the industry’s transition toward complex generics, speciality APIs, and advanced therapeutic platforms. Technical sessions and panel discussions highlighted the growing importance of green and sustainable chemistry, with particular emphasis on flow chemistry and continuous manufacturing as critical enablers of consistent quality, regulatory compliance, and long-term competitiveness.

The year 2025 emerged as a landmark for Indian pharmaceutical exports, with iPHEX at Bharat Mandapam standing out as a flagship achievement. The global exhibition successfully brought Indian exporters and international buyers together on a single platform, reaffirming global confidence in India’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities.

Reflecting on execution milestones and global engagement platforms, K. Raja Bhanu, Director General, Pharmexcil, described iPHEX as a clear demonstration of India’s ability to translate manufacturing strength into tangible business outcomes and enduring global partnerships. “iPHEX 2025 demonstrated the power of a well-orchestrated global platform—bringing Indian exporters and international buyers together to generate real business outcomes. Our focus remains on strengthening such platforms that convert India’s manufacturing strength into sustained export growth and long-term partnerships,” he said.

Setting the strategic context for India’s evolving pharmaceutical export landscape, Namit Joshi, Chairman, Pharmexcil, emphasised the need for a decisive shift toward value-led growth anchored in quality, compliance, and sustainability. “As Indian pharma moves up the value chain, our priority is to ensure exporters are equipped to meet rising global expectations on quality, complexity, and sustainability. Pharmexcil will continue to play a catalytic role in enabling this transition through policy alignment, capability building, and global engagement,” he stated.

The AGM also placed strong emphasis on MSME empowerment, regulatory engagement, and market diversification beyond traditional geographies. Highlighting the role of regulatory science in building global trust and enabling market access, Bhavin Mehta, Vice Chairman, Pharmexcil, underscored the growing international relevance of the Indian Pharmacopoeia in reinforcing India’s credibility as a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub. “The increasing global recognition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia validates India’s scientific rigour and regulatory maturity. As manufacturing technologies evolve, alignment between advanced processes and robust pharmacopoeial standards will be critical to reinforcing India’s credibility as a reliable global supplier,” he said.

Having established itself as one of the world’s largest producers of medicines by volume, the Indian pharmaceutical sector is now navigating a structural transition toward higher-value and more complex products. The growing focus on complex generics, speciality APIs, and advanced therapeutic formats necessitates sophisticated chemical processes, enhanced process control, reproducibility, and rigorous quality assurance.

As India seeks to sustain export growth while advancing toward differentiated and complex offerings, Dr. Srinivas Oruganti, Director, Dr. Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences (DRILS), observed that conventional manufacturing approaches are increasingly being challenged by both scientific realities and evolving regulatory expectations.

Dr. Viranchi Shah, Past National Director, Indian Drug Manufacturers’ Association (IDMA), noted that the industry’s focus on targeted therapies and patient-centric formulations further intensifies the need for robust development and manufacturing platforms that ensure precision, stability, and scalability.

Reinforcing the need for advanced manufacturing infrastructure, technology adoption, and collaborative ecosystems, Ch. Rameswar Rao, National President, BDMAI, emphasised that wider awareness, targeted technical guidance, and phased implementation are essential to enable bulk drug manufacturers to transition effectively toward greener and more efficient processes.

Senior policymaker participation and recognition at the AGM further reinforced Pharmexcil’s position as one of India’s most effective export promotion councils, playing a catalytic role in shaping the country’s pharmaceutical export narrative at a time of significant global transition.