**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the growth of India's pharmaceutical exports, which stood at USD 30.47 billion in 2024-25, a 9.4% increase. It highlights the Commerce Secretary's address during the Regional Chintan Shivir on Pharmaceutical Exports and outlines key discussion points and initiatives to boost the sector. The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed on 24 July 2025 and the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which became effective on 1 October 2025 were mentioned. iPHEX, the 12th International Exhibition on Pharma and Healthcare Industry, is expected to be held in 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Pharmaceutical Export Growth & Market Size**
* India's pharmaceutical exports reached USD 30.47 billion in 2024-25, a 9.4% increase.
* The domestic pharmaceutical market is estimated at around USD 60 billion.
* The domestic market is expected to double to approximately USD 130 billion by 2030.
* **India's Position in the Global Market**
* India is the world's third-largest pharmaceutical producer by volume and fourteenth by value.
* Indian medicines reach over 200 markets, with over 60% of exports going to stringent regulatory destinations.
* The United States accounts for about 34%, and Europe for around 19%, of India's pharmaceutical exports.
* **Chintan Shivir Deliberations**
* Focus on sensitizing exporters, especially MSMEs, to the international trade framework.
* Strengthening industry awareness of policy, regulatory, and capacity-building initiatives.
* Identification of non-tariff barriers and regulatory challenges.
* Expansion of regulatory cooperation and mutual recognition mechanisms.
* Building a robust life sciences innovation ecosystem.
* **International Trade Framework**
* India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed on 24 July 2025.
* India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which became effective on 1 October 2025.
* Emphasis on zero-tariff provisions and their potential to enhance competitiveness and investment.
* Forthcoming India-Switzerland collaboration initiatives in biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation.
* **Technical Sessions & Initiatives**
* Sessions on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), skilled manpower, Foreign Trade Policy, GST regime, and revised GMP.
* iPHEX, the 12th International Exhibition on Pharma and Healthcare Industry, expected to be held in 2026.
* **Government Focus**
* Continued focus on regulatory strengthening and trade facilitation.
* Close collaboration with industry to enhance export competitiveness.
**Impact Analysis**
**Exporters, especially MSMEs:**
* **Impact:** Increased awareness of evolving international trade frameworks, policies, and regulatory initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Sensitize themselves to the evolving international trade frameworks and strengthen awareness of policies, regulatory, and capacity-building initiatives.
**Policymakers, Regulators, Industry Representatives, Technical Experts:**
* **Impact:** Collaboration and information exchange on key issues shaping the pharmaceutical export ecosystem.
* **Action Required:** Participate in ongoing dialogues and contribute to the development of policies and regulations that support export growth.
**Pharmaceutical Manufacturers:**
* **Impact:** Opportunity to expand exports and enhance competitiveness through compliance with international standards and leveraging trade agreements.
* **Action Required:** Ensure compliance with revised GMP standards and explore opportunities presented by trade agreements.
Key Entities Referenced
Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL): Organization involved in promoting India's pharmaceutical export ecosystem and co-organizer of the reported programme.
Department of Commerce: The department that organized the programme discussed in the article.
Chintan Shivir: A regional conference focused on India's pharmaceutical exports.
India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA): Bilateral trade agreement signed in 2025.
India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA): Bilateral trade agreement which became effective in October 2025
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Indian Pharmaceutical products are globally
recognized, exports jumped over 9% this year:
Commerce Secretary
India is third largest pharmaceutical producer of the world by
volume
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quality under pharma products
प्रव तथ: 17 DEC 2025 7:59PM by PIB Delhi
India’s pharmaceutical exports stood at USD 30.47 billion in 2024–25, registering a growth of 9.4 percent
over the previous year, supported by a strong manufacturing base and expanding global outreach, said
Commerce Secretary Shri Rajesh Agrawal while inaugurating a one-day Regional Chintan Shivir on
Pharmaceutical Exports. The Commerce Secretary also highlighted that India’s domestic pharmaceutical
market is currently estimated at around USD 60 billion. Shri Agrawal said that the market is expected to
double to approximately USD 130 billion by 2030, reflecting the sector’s scale, depth, and innovation
potential, through a video address in Chandigarh today.
The programme, organised by the Department of Commerce, Government of India, in collaboration with
the Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council of India (PHARMEXCIL), brought together policymakers,
regulators, industry representatives, exporters including MSMEs, Indian missions abroad and technical
experts to deliberate on key issues shaping India’s pharmaceutical export ecosystem.
The Commerce Secretary underlined that India is today the world’s third-largest pharmaceutical producer
by volume and fourteenth by value, with more than 3,000 companies, 10,500 manufacturing units and
over 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic areas.
Indian medicines reach over 200 markets worldwide, with more than 60 percent of exports going to
stringent regulatory destinations. The United States accounts for about 34 percent, while Europe accounts
for around 19 percent of India’s pharmaceutical exports. These strengths, combined with India’s role as a
reliable supplier of quality-assured and affordable medicines, were recognised as a strong foundation for
the next phase of export growth.
Deliberations during the Chintan Shivir focused on sensitising exporters, especially MSMEs, to India’s
evolving international trade and cooperation framework, and on strengthening industry awareness of
policy, regulatory and capacity-building initiatives relevant to pharmaceutical exports. Discussions centredon the identification of non-tariff barriers and regulatory challenges, expansion of regulatory cooperation
and mutual recognition mechanisms to enable faster and more predictable approvals, and building a robust
life sciences innovation ecosystem encompassing research and development, clinical trials, biologics,
vaccines and biosimilars.
The Commerce Secretary also underlined the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to position
India as a trusted global trade partner and to expand India’s share in global pharmaceutical trade, thereby
enabling wider access to quality and affordable healthcare across the world.
Participants were apprised of recent developments in India’s international trade framework, including the
India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed on 24 July 2025, and the
India–European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA),
which became effective on 1 October 2025. Emphasis was placed on the binding zero-tariff provisions in
these agreements and their potential to enhance the competitiveness of Indian generic medicines, as well
as the investment and employment opportunities arising from them. The programme also highlighted
forthcoming India–Switzerland collaboration initiatives in biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation,
including the scope for linking Swiss biotech clusters with Indian innovation hubs.
Technical sessions were held on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), skilled manpower development,
emerging developments in the Foreign Trade Policy, the evolving GST regime and the implementation of
revised Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Experts from CSIR–Institute of Microbial Technology,
NIPER Mohali, DGFT, CDSCO, State Drug Control Authorities, the Life Sciences Sector Skill
Development Council and industry shared insights on regulatory readiness, quality management systems,
workforce competency and digital compliance mechanisms. PHARMEXCIL also presented its export
promotion initiatives, including its flagship event iPHEX, the 12th International Exhibition on Pharma and
Healthcare Industry, expected to be held in 2026.
The Chintan Shivir concluded with an interactive session on the implementation of the revised GMP
framework. The discussions underscored the Government’s continued focus on regulatory strengthening,
trade facilitation and close collaboration with industry to further enhance India’s pharmaceutical export
competitiveness and global standing.
***
Abhishek Dayal/Shabbir Azad/ Ishita Biswas /Anushka Pandey
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2205547) आगंतुक पटल : 1216
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