EDB facilitates local pharma sector to enter East Asian market

Considering the importance of strengthening the pharmaceutical industry and increasing the sector’s contribution to the economy, the Export Development Board (EDB), with the help of the Sri Lanka Embassy in Thailand and Sri Lanka Embassy in Vietnam, organised a first-ever Sri Lanka pharmaceutical presence at the sixth Phar-Med Cambodia 2023, held from September 20-22, 2023, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Cambodia is a country that is spending more on healthcare with economic development. Both the government and development partners from all over the world are committed to improving the health system. Cambodia has a potential economic gateway to the pharmaceutical market of over 15 million consumers. Cambodia is a dynamic crossroad linking Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. 

Phar-Med 2023 Cambodia is one of the established exhibitions of the healthcare industry in Cambodia, with 60+ exhibitors showcasing the latest and fast-moving products of leading multinational and regional companies dealing with pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, drug materials, medical devices and equipment, laboratory equipment and devices.
This annual exhibition provides a powerful platform to connect across the globe, market verticals, including contract manufacturing opportunities, gain industry insights and technical innovations. 
Sri Lanka’s business delegation to Par-Med 2023 comprised three Sri Lankan pharmaceutical companies: M/s Gammainterpharm (Private) Limited, M/s Astron Limited, M/s EmergenLife Sciences (Private) Limited. The country pavilion of Sri Lanka showcased many pharmaceutical finished formulations such as antibiotics, vitamins, nutraceuticals and respiratory care products, etc. with the guidance of the EDB.
The companies that participated in the sixth Phar-Med exhibition stated that this show has provided an excellent platform for Sri Lankan pharmaceutical manufacturers to initiate business contacts with various foreign distributors and to explore the new trends available in the
international market.

This year, more than 2,000 visitors from pharmaceutical distributors, hospitals and retailer pharmacies have visited the exhibition. Further, more than 60 exhibitors from Germany, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, etc. also participated in
the exhibition.
The Sri Lanka Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (SLPMA) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Cambodia Pharmaceutical Distributor Association (CPDA) at the seminar programme, which was held at the exhibition, on September 20, 2023, with the coordination
of the EDB.
The EDB will continue facilitating the pharmaceutical industry to create more avenues in the international market, in order to enhance the visibility of the industry globally whilst establishing an enabling environment locally to facilitate
the manufacturers.
The pharmaceutical sector has been identified as one of the promising and emerging sectors in Sri Lanka, not only to be developed as an import substitution industry but also as an export-oriented industry, which could earn and save
foreign currency.