EEPC India Convenes Hyderabad Roadshow to Build Momentum for Pharma MachTech Expo 2026

Hyderabad's pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem took centre stage on Friday as the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India convened a roadshow at ITC Kakatiya in Begumpet. The gathering focused on positioning India as a global innovation powerhouse in pharma machinery and laboratory equipment sectors.

The roadshow precedes the second edition of Pharma MachTech & LabNext Expo 2026, scheduled to run from September 7 to 9 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The expo will operate in parallel with iPHEX, a prominent international pharmaceutical exhibition, enabling exhibitors to showcase the entire pharma and healthcare engineering value chain under one roof.

Speaking as chief guest, Akshay S.C., Joint Director General of Foreign Trade at the Hyderabad Regional Authority, underscored the critical role of India's steel and manufacturing sectors in driving pharmaceutical growth. He called for manufacturers to align production with international standards while ramping up domestic capacity for specialised equipment.

Adhip Mitra, Executive Director and Secretary of EEPC India, outlined an ambitious vision for the sector. India aims to achieve pharmaceutical exports valued at USD 130 billion by 2030, requiring manufacturers and exporters to prioritise innovation and value creation. The forthcoming expo will serve as a platform to explore cutting-edge technologies including Pharma 4.0, automation systems, precision drug delivery mechanisms and next-generation laboratory tools.

Mitra highlighted that the event would facilitate seminars, conferences and networking sessions with international buyers, fostering knowledge exchange and cross-border commercial partnerships. During the roadshow, Rakesh Suraj presented details about the expo while industry specialists deliberated on government policy support, sustainability initiatives, digital transformation and advanced manufacturing methodologies.

Hyderabad's significance in India's pharmaceutical landscape makes the city a natural choice for such an initiative. The city supplies roughly one-third of global vaccine production and accounts for approximately 40 per cent of India's active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing. Engineering hubs in Jeedimetla, Balanagar and Kukatpally form the backbone of the regional pharmaceutical equipment supply chain.

India's domestic pharma machinery sector currently expands at a compound annual growth rate between 8 and 10 per cent, though dependence on imports for sophisticated equipment remains substantial. Pharma machinery exports have grown at a 15.3 per cent CAGR over the past five years, while imports increased by 10.5 per cent, creating a trade deficit. Laboratory equipment exports expanded at an 8.3 per cent CAGR during the same timeframe, compared to an import growth rate of 7 per cent.

The programme concluded with remarks from Arun Shukla, Deputy Regional Chairman of EEPC India. The event also saw participation from Pankaj Chadha, K. Narendran of CDSCO and Suresh Babu.