HYDERABAD, APRIL 04, 2026: In a significant initiative to strengthen India’s pharmaceutical sector, a high-impact Chintan Shivir was held in Hyderabad on Saturday, India’s Pharma Capital and a major global biotechnology hub. The event was organised by the Department of Commerce, Government of India, in association with the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).
The Chintan Shivir assumes special importance in light of the vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his 79th Independence Day address to the nation. Emphasising the need for innovation and self-reliance in healthcare, the Prime Minister had stated: “Researchers and entrepreneurs must secure patents for new drugs and medical technologies, ensuring that India not only meets its own healthcare needs but also becomes a global hub of medical self-reliance and innovation, demonstrating the country’s ability to lead in science, technology, and human welfare.”
The inaugural session was chaired by Rajesh Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Commerce. Senior officials, including the Chairman of Pharmexcil and a Joint Secretary from the Department of Pharmaceuticals, addressed the gathering. The Commerce Secretary, in his address, highlighted the strong growth trajectory of India’s pharmaceutical industry, noting that India, with nearly 18–19% of the world’s population, is itself a large and expanding market where rising incomes will further drive healthcare demand. He underlined that the industry, currently valued at around US$ 60 billion with nearly 50% contribution from exports, has emerged as the “pharmacy of the world” on account of its scale, cost competitiveness, and global leadership in generic medicines. Emphasising the need to navigate an increasingly uncertain and geopolitically volatile global environment, he stressed the importance of ensuring greater self-reliance by meeting 80–90% (or higher) of domestic pharmaceutical requirements through indigenous production, while reducing critical import dependencies in APIs, bulk drugs, and intermediates. He also highlighted the need to secure and diversify export supply chains, noting that while India exports to around 200 countries, there remains significant scope for expansion and resilience-building through a stronger market presence.
The Commerce Secretary underscored the need for a strategic repositioning of India as a global hub for both quality and cost-effective pharmaceuticals, stating that quality will remain the decisive factor in healthcare. He called for building a robust quality ecosystem to enhance global trust, while also aligning with emerging industry trends such as biologics and biosimilars. Highlighting the need to transition from a volume-driven to a value-driven industry, he encouraged greater focus on innovation, including participation in the development of new patents alongside continued strength in generics. He also emphasised the importance of insulating import supply chains in a geopolitically fragmented world, where availability may be important. He noted that such candid and collaborative deliberations can generate actionable solutions from within the sector. The Secretary reiterated the Government’s commitment to work closely with industry to strengthen value, quality, and resilient supply chains, and also interacted with exporters during the session, addressing their queries and concerns.
This Chintan Shivir in Hyderabad is an important step towards translating the Prime Minister’s call for innovation and self-reliance in healthcare into reality. It aligns with the Union Budget 2026-27 announcement of Biopharma SHAKTI, a dedicated national initiative with an outlay of Rs. 10,000 crores over five years aimed at strengthening India’s end-to-end ecosystem for biologics and biosimilars and positioning the country as a global biopharma hub.It reaffirms the Government of India’s strong and continued support to the pharmaceutical sector and all its stakeholders. India remains the third-largest producer of pharmaceuticals globally by volume and 14th by value. The sector’s exports reached US$30.47 billion in 2024-25, marking 9.4% growth over the previous year. During April-February 2025-26, pharma exports stood at US$28.29 billion, up over 5% compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. The sector recorded a net foreign exchange surplus of US$21.5 billion in 2024-25.
A dedicated CEO interaction session provided industry leaders with an opportunity to directly engage with the Commerce Secretary and senior government officials on critical issues relating to market access, regulatory compliance, and strategies for export growth. The Chintan Shivir also offered stakeholders an opportunity to review the evolving situation in West Asia and discuss measures to maintain uninterrupted supply lines for ensuring the health of citizens in India and across the world. It featured focused thematic sessions on global regulatory harmonisation, the Foreign Trade Policy, digital trade facilitation, and the application of AI to improve operational efficiency and sustainability in the pharmaceutical sector. The event also saw the launch of iPHEX 2026, the 12th International Exhibition on Pharma and Healthcare Industry, which is scheduled to be held from 7 to 9 September 2026.
The deliberations at this Chintan Shivir in Hyderabad will feed into policy measures aimed at enhancing export competitiveness, improving ease of doing business, and further strengthening India’s position as the ‘Pharmacy of the World’, with the full support of the Government of India.
Photo caption: From Left to Right – Mr. Chakravarthy, AVPS, Honorary Advisor, Pharmexcil & Chairman, FOPE (AP & Telangana); Mr. Raja Bhanu, Director General, Pharmexcil; Mr. Namit Joshi, Chairman, Pharmexcil; Shri Rajesh Agrawal, IAS, Secretary – Department of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Shri Mohit Yadav, IFS, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce and Industry, Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Shri. Satyaprakash T L, IAS, Joint Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India; Mr Nipun Jain, Chairman of iPHEX 2026
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