DHAKA: The 13th edition of the Asia Pharma / Asia Lab Expo 2021, an international exhibition on complete pharma manufacturing focusing on the Asian pharma industry, was held online from January 9 to 11, 2021, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first time in its history that the expo was held virtually as until last year it used to be held physically at Dhaka in Bangladesh. The virtual exhibition was jointly organized by Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (Bangladesh Aushad Shilpa Samity) and India-based GPE Expo Pvt. Ltd. The event was supported by the Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) and Association of Pharmaceutical Producers of Nepal (APPON).
Pharma manufacturing trade professionals explored 114 exhibiting companies from 16 countries and more than 580 categories ofproducts as-well-as services were enlisted. The trade professionals who attended the online edition of the show represented key positions like: Director, CEO, Proprietor, Purchase, Production, General Manager, Plant Manager, Factory Manager and QA / QC from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka & other South East Asian countries. Also, more than 1,300 buyers from different parts of the world attended the online event.
Moreover, 22 live technology presentations were showcased over 3 days as concurrent event alongside the online exhibition. The live presentations addressed the latest trends and current practices of pharma manufacturing technologies by the exhibiting companies. The presentations remained highly resourceful for pharma manufacturing fraternity to acquire technology-based information like: Fight against COVID-19; Pharma projects; Conceptual design of manufacturing facility; Technologies & innovations in centrifugation, dry granulation, tableting, OSD, water system (WFI-PS unit, PW generation, water distribution system, effluent treatment plant); Pharma packaging & anti-counterfeiting solutions; Cleanroom - concept design & intelligent engineering; and Measurement & validation for efficient processes & quality control.
"The pharma manufacturing of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal are playing an important role among the South Asian region. Keeping in mind the health advisories by the WHO, due to the pandemic, the online exhibition integrated all the basic essential features to the exhibiting companies to generate optimum output in terms of display and communication while participating in a highly cost-effective manner," said GPE Expo spokesperson in a press statement.
