Focusing on intermediates and APIs, CPhI China, is the largest annual networking event for the Asian pharmaceutical community and is expected to attract more than 20,000 visitors, including 7,000 from outside China.
Projected to be the third largest pharma market globally by 2011 and the second largest by 2020, China is both a large producer and consumer of medicines, making it an attractive market in terms of both sourcing and sales. Additional stimuli, such as changes to local GMP standards, which are being revised in 2010 to be more in line with international ones, are also making China increasingly appealing for Western visitors to the events, looking to access the many outsourcing and production efficiency partnering opportunities available in China.
But although China has risen swiftly to become one of the biggest players in global pharma, there is still widespread uncertainty about how to exploit the opportunities that exist, and how to build successful business relationships. With a growth rate of around 30% a year, the Chinese pharma sector is maturing rapidly and there is a strong need and desire for international collaborations. The exhibition presents an opportunity to find the right partner and to maintain and build strategic partnerships in a professional and international environment.
‘Within the last 50 years life expectancy in China has almost doubled,’ said Eliane van Doorn, UBM International Media’s group director for pharma events. ‘With the burgeoning middle-class population ageing, rapidly urbanising and adopting Western lifestyles, the Chinese market presents diverse, exciting opportunities for both domestic and international businesses.’
The dramatic expansion of China’s pharma industry is illustrated by the exponential growth experienced by UBM’s portfolio of China events. The inaugural CPhI China in 2001 attracted fewer than 200, mainly domestic exhibitors and 8,000 visitors, while this year, the combined events portfolio will host 1,597 Chinese exhibitors and 100 international exhibitors from countries including India, the US, Germany and the UK.
Now in its tenth year, CPhI China was joined by ICSE China in 2005, P-MEC China in 2006 and BioPh China in 2010.
