CPhI and P-MEC China, organised by UBM EMEA, UBM Sinoexpo and China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products (CCCMHPIE), closed in June 2017 with a very successful show, reporting positive outlook for further Chinese pharmaceutical market development.

Since 2016, CPhI China has experienced a 14 percent growth in overall visits and a 12 percent growth in overseas visits.

The event, featuring 2,800-plus exhibiting companies covering the entire supply chain, acts as an accurate barometer of the industry's overall growth patterns and future developments.

"CPhI China has grown to be the single most influential meeting point for pharma suppliers and customers, and this year we observed a record number of international attendees and over 55,000 visits in total,” said Rutger Oudejans, brand Director Pharma.

He added, “The pharma economy has diversified rapidly in the last few years and new markets are emerging in bio and final dosage forms. In addition to the ingredients sector -- which represents some 40% of global production. This year's event was especially significant as we increased the range of insights and analysis across the changing business and regulatory environment. With sessions held on everything from the MAH pilot to formulation development strategies and international distribution. Next year we expect even stronger growth as domestic pharma economy cements its number 2 status and exports of new forms grow exponentially."

Two major trends to emerge from Asia's largest pharma event were the increased interest and promotion of "intelligent manufacturing"systems as well as 'green manufacturing' approaches.

The former emphasised a rapid shift within China's industry towards advanced facilities and product classes.

However, the latter is a particularly notable change in light of the country's general reputation, and the first ever "China Pharma Environmental Forum" was an integral feature of this year's exhibition.

Another major development in 2017 was the introduction of the first edition of the CPhI China Pharma Week, which was a direct response to China's increased internationalisation.

 Across the entire week, CPhI and P-MEC China attendees had the opportunity to experience richer content than in any other previous edition.

To mention a few: Plant visits in leading R&D and innovation companies, CPhI China River Cruise Networking dinner on Huangpu River that held over 250 overseas and domestic attendees, the CPhI Pharma Business International Program to help overseas companies solve problems they encounter when entering the Chinese market and many more.

As part of the CPhI China Pharma week, the show saw the launch of the Bluebook on Internationalization of China's Pharmaceutical Industry -- listing the largest Chinese companies operating internationally -- and "The 2017 Awards for Top 100 Internationalized Pharmaceutical Companies in China". Both influential regional lists that review and document the country's most prominent companies.

Finally, 2017 saw the arrival of another global trend sweeping through pharma with the first ever CPhI Women in Leadership Forum in China, which featured high level debates on how to advance female executive potential contributing to the fast development of Pharmaceutical industry in the country.

In total, 55,020 visits were recorded over the three-day Shanghai event, with 10,126 visits from international attendees, including representatives from more than 120 different countries, covering an enormous 165,000m² of exhibition space at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, which makes it the biggest edition of CPhI and P-MEC China to date.

CPhI and P-MEC China will return with its 18 edition again in 2018. The event will be held from 20 – 22 June 2018 in Shanghai New International Expo Centre, alongside the 2^nd CPhI China Pharma Week edition.