Pradeep Man Vaidya (President)

It gives me an immense pleasure to write few words on this auspicious occasion of "Nepal Pharma and Health Care Expo 2005". This Expo is the result of the positive response from all concerned mainly with Pharmaceutical sector along with Participants, manufacturers suppliers, medical professionals, chemist and druggists and consumers as a whole. Encouragement from all these concern people resulted in this Expo.

Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal (APPON), is the only association engaged to work for the development and betterment of Pharmaceutical manufacturers of Nepal. In context of WTO, globalization and free market economies are to be considered very seriously and for that we have to prepare ourselves competitively to grab these opportunities given by WTO to LDCs. So we have a challenge to acquire GMP certification and to attain self-sufficiency in Pharmaceuticals. APPON has to work a lot in this context.

This Expo, organized for the first time in Nepal, offers a single platform for developing wide range of products / services both national / international to update the information and the knowledge which includes Pharma Processing Plants / Equipments, Packaging Materials and Machineries, Fine Chemicals, Bulk Drugs, Environmental Control Equipments (AHU), Lab Equipment, Analytical Laboratories Services and Supplies and pharma related services. This will help the national industries to strengthen themselves from the latest pharmaceutical technology services provided by the related agencies participating this Expo. This will certainly update the knowledge of the participants (Nepalese entrepreneurs pharmacist, chemist and druggists, health related personalities).

Under WTO regime we can develop mechanism for the protection of pharmaceutical industries remaining within WTO limits by seeking technical assistance, FDI, Joint Global Marketing, Contract Manufacturing and Loan Licensing. According to WTO Doha declaration only LDC's will be allowed to export patented drugs for other LDC's, Nepal being one of the member LDC, has to face this challenge of globalization and explore the potential pharma market abroad. This is the right time when we can explore these opportunities and this Expo has been organized at right time and it will be very much beneficial to Nepalese Pharmaceutical Industries, I am sure.

The outcome of this event is expected to be very positive. It is my great privilege and pleasure to be one of the initiators of this expo.

I wish all this success of this event.