Sao Paulo to host CPhl and P-MEC in 2009

Brazil's carnival capital Rio de Janeiro will host the twin launch of the CPhI South America pharma ingredients and P-MEC South America pharma machinery and equipment exhibitions later this month.

The launch exhibitions will be held at Brazil's newest convention facility - the Centro de Convencoes Sulamerica at Cidade Nova, which was opened last summer.

Over 160 companies and organisations have booked to exhibit from 19 to 21 August and the shows were fully sold a few months before the event.

The Latin and Central America markets, which are valued at approximately US $33bn (Euro 22bn) and have a 13% growth rate, are joining China and India as regions of dramatic future opportunities for pharma-related services.

High interest in CPhI and P-MEC South America has already brought confirmation that the second year's exhibitions will be held on 26 - 28 August 2009, at Sao Paulo's Transamerica Expo Center.

Providing coverage across the pharma ingredients, contract services and production equipment sectors, co-location of CPhI and P-MEC will ensure a high level of networking and business opportunities in a single event visit.

To help market newcomers, the first event day on 19 August will feature the "First Latin American Pharma Business Forum".

The six-session morning forum will provide a Latin America market overview, inform about the major requirements of business with and in Brazil, and import/export and regulatory requirements.

To connect buyers and sellers, "Match and Meet" networking sessions will be offered between 15.00 and 16.00 on 19 August and between 11.00 and 12.00 on the second and third event days.

In a further networking benefit, the exhibitions coincide with Brazil's 6th Technical-Scientific Pharmaceutical Production Congress, also being staged at the convention centre over the same three days.

CMPi Pharma Portfolio Group Director Eliane van Doorn, said: "With 30% of the market and an 18% growth rate, Brazil is the natural host for the latest regional debuts of CPhI and P-MEC. Brazil enjoys a strong and growing presence by international market-leading companies, is a key regional manufacturing centre and increasingly important for clinical trials.

"Following the success of both CPhI and P-MEC in India, events for the fast-growing South American markets, including Mexico, Argentina and Venezuela, were the logical next step in extending the brands."

Key national organisations supporting the first CPhI and P-MEC South America events include: ABRIFAR - the Brazilian Association of Importers and Distributors of Pharmaceutical Ingredients; ABIMIP - the Brazilian Association of the OTC Medicine Industry; ABIQUIF - the Brazilian Pharmochemical Producers Association; ABIFINA -- the Brazilian Association of the Fine Chemistry, Biotechnology and its Specialties Industries; Alanac - the Association of National Pharmaceutical Laboratories; PRO-GENERICOS -the Brazilian Association of the Industries of Generic Medicines and Sindusfarma - the Pharmaceutical Industry Syndicate of Sao Paulo.