The global pharmaceutical community is buzzing at CPHI Greater Noida, and India’s pharma leadership is stepping into the spotlight with confidence, pride, and a dose of caution for the future.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Namit Joshi, Chairman of the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), said India’s pharmaceutical sector has firmly secured its place among the top five export promotion councils under the Ministry of Commerce — a milestone driven largely by the country’s unmatched dominance in generic medicines.

“We are very strong in the generic space. Nearly 50% of our export revenue comes from the U.S. and Europe — markets where you cannot sell a single tablet without meeting the highest quality standards,” Joshi said, emphasizing the trust India has earned worldwide.

At CPHI, where global manufacturers, regulators, and innovators converge, Joshi highlighted how Indian pharma companies have continually crossed tough regulatory hurdles.

“We are extremely happy that India is now recognized for its quality management systems,” he said. “Even with uncertainties like tariff threats under former U.S. President Donald Trump or the Section 32 inquiry, the sector has remained resilient. Growth dipped slightly for a while, but things are steady now.”

Despite India’s global leadership, Joshi issued a clear warning: the country is lagging in future-ready pharmaceutical innovation.

“In the next five years, areas like complex generics, biosimilars, and biologics will dominate the global market,” he said. “India has not taken a strong position in these segments yet. If we don’t move fast, the title of ‘pharmacy of the world’ may start to slip. Global competition is intensifying.”

On the recent ban of a contaminated cold syrup batch that triggered national concern, Mr. Harish K. Jain, National President of the Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE), addressed the issue candidly.

“This incident should not have happened, and we deeply regret it,” Jain said. “But the government has now made testing mandatory for all syrups — no syrup can be sold without passing these required tests.”

He stressed that the episode has become a turning point for the industry.

“We assure the nation that such an incident will not happen again. We are working hand-in-hand with the government to strengthen compliance. National safety comes first.”