CII International

“There are many similarities in health concerns of India & LAC in terms of disease profiles, as reflected in tropical diseases like malaria, dengue, chikungunya and hepatitis as well as non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer and cardio-vascular diseases. The Indian pharma industry’s contribution to affordable health has expanded progressively from low-cost generics, HIV medicines & COVID vaccines to also include today low-cost medical devices, complex generics & biosimilars. India’s innovative capacities are reflected in 98 approved biosimilars & another 40 undergoing clinical trials, which offer affordable equivalents to expensive drugs in areas such as cancer treatment as the patent life of expensive drugs expires. India’s CAR T-cell therapy for cancers costs only 1/10th of alternative immunotherapies for cancer”, stated Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry Of Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India at the session on Healthcare Partnerships: Advancing Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Innovation  at #CIIIndiaLACConclave. Hon’ble Secretary underscored the need for India, LAC and the rest of the global South to enhance the affordability advantage of low-cost & innovative Indian drugs by harmonising respective national standards & quality specifications. He highlighted the growing recognition & acceptance of the cost-effective Indian #Pharmacopoeia by 13 other countries, including three in LAC (Guyana, Nicaragua & Suriname). Indian Pharmacopoeia validates adherence to standards & quality through equally reliable reference materials whose cost may be as low as 1/10th of that used in other commonly used pharmacopoeias. He urged the LAC ministers, ambassadors & senior government officials present to work towards creating a system of regulatory reliance with India to enable faster access to & lower cost of supply of drugs from India to patients, hospitals & public healthcare systems in LAC. #affordablehealthcare CDSCO FDA India MoHFW Pharmexcil (Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India) Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India

Session Chairman Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, highlighted ongoing trade negotiations between India and Peru, with seven rounds of discussions completed and an 8th round on the horizon at the India–Pacific Alliance Strategic Integration session at #CIIIndiaLACConclave.   He also emphasized India’s expansion into Latin America, leveraging shorter trade routes and direct flights to Madrid in the future.   He stressed on how Mexico, Colombia and Peru are one of the largest economies in the world in terms of area. They have made it very easy for goods and services to move freely across the countries.   Other key leaders from Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile shared insights on deepening economic collaboration with India. With thriving trade relationships and high-potential sectors like mining, renewable energy, AI, e-commerce, and infrastructure, India is actively engaging with Latin America for stronger partnerships.   The session was also addressed by: * H.E. Javier Manuel Paulinich Velarde, Ambassador of Peru to India * Mr. Juan Carlos Rojas Arango, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Colombia in India * Carlos Castillo, Director General for Heavy Industries, Ministry of Economy of Mexico * Pankaj Chadha, Chairman, EEPC INDIA

The Bahamas acts as a perfect gateway for investments because of its geo-strategic location and offers several opportunities for growth and collaboration, stated Honourable Alfred Sears, MP, Minister of Immigration and National Insurance, Commonwealth of The Bahamas at the session on "Enhancing Multimodal Networks: The Role of Infrastructure and Logistics" at #CIIIndiaLACConclave   He highlighted that the economy of The Bahamas is characterised by its tourism sector. He further stated, that this is an area where the Bahamas can learn from India and increase its capacity, particularly in the area of heritage tourism, for which India is renowned. He also mentioned the financial sector and shipping as other key areas of cooperation where the two sides can expand cooperation.   Chaired by Dinkar Singh, Director, Public Affairs, UPS Indian Subcontinent. The session was also attended by - ⁠Pankaj Kumar, Joint Secretary (Logistics), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade - H.E Sancia Marie Bennett Templer, Permanent Secretary and Head of Administration, Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce, Jamaica - ⁠Aditya Parakh, Co-Promoter and COO, Ashoka Buildcon Limited - Kunal Mutha, Director, Mohan Mutha Exports Pvt Ltd - ⁠Chinmay Patel, Asst. Vice President, Kalpatru Projects Internal Limited.

"Cuba has made significant strides in establishing laboratories, strengthening public health ministries, and preventing highly infectious diseases," stated H.E. Dr. Eduardo Martinez Diaz, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, at the session on Healthcare Partnerships: Advancing Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Innovation at #CIIIndiaLACConclave. Dr. Diaz highlighted Cuba’s flexible and resilient healthcare system, noting that Cuban medical professionals have contributed internationally, particularly in countries where healthcare systems faced critical challenges. He also emphasized Cuba’s advancements in life sciences and biotechnology, making it a national priority. Expressing optimism about the future, he asserted that continued advancements in biotechnology and healthcare innovation could help eradicate major diseases globally. He also spoke about the importance of strengthening healthcare collaborations between Cuba and India, particularly in enhancing medical research, biotechnology, and institutional healthcare excellence. Chaired by Dr Rajiv Chhibber, PhD, Vice President, External Affairs (Policy, Govt Relations & Outreach), Sahajanand Medical Technologies, the session was attended by: • ⁠Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India • H.E Dr Eduardo Martinez Diaz, Deputy Prime Minister, Republic of Cuba India in Cuba (Embassy of India, Havana) • ⁠Honourable Philip Telesford, Minister for Health, Grenada  * Carmen Estela Perez, President, Asociación de Industriales Químico-Farmacéuticos de El Salvador - INQUIFAR • ⁠Luis Angel Osorio, Ph.D., Senior Professor & Assistant Dean - Corporate Alignment, Woxsen University • Anupama Rao Singh, Vice President - LATAM Region Head, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories #CIIIndiaLACConclave

“Where India’s collaboration with Latin America and the Caribbean are concerned, there are some areas of special priority, as a result. First and foremost, our partnership must address the needs of health security. India is a major player when it comes to pharmaceuticals and vaccines. We are today prepared not only to export competitively but also localise production, where necessary. Many of us have a well-established heritage of traditional medicine. Facilitating technology flows, harmonising regulations, recognising pharmacopoeia and promoting mobility of talent are among the possibilities that we should encourage,” said Dr S Jaishankar, Honourable Minister of External Affairs, Government of India while addressing the session on Advancing Economic Alliances for Collaborative Growth at #CIIIndiaLACConclave held in New Delhi today. “India is today in many ways a pioneer of digital public infrastructure. In the last decade, we have veritably seen a transformation in the quality of governance and the efficiency of services delivery as a result. We would be open to engaging in collaborative endeavours in the digital domain so that its benefits can also be availed of in the Latin America and the Caribbean,” he added. The session was also addressed by: •⁠ ⁠Mr R Mukundan, Vice President, CII •⁠ ⁠Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII #CIIIndiaLACConclave Ministry of External Affairs, India Tata Chemicals Mukundan Ramakrishnan

Join Dr. S. Jaishankar, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, Government of India, as he shares his vision for a stronger India-LAC relationship at the 10th CII India LAC Conclave today, in New Delhi. #CIIIndiaLACConclave #TradeAndInvestment #GlobalCollaboration #ConnectingNations Ministry of External Affairs, India

“Sectoral diversification is crucial so that we can move beyond the traditional areas of trade. High-end manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, digital engagement, digital public infrastructure and artificial intelligence, all of these are necessary for building a future-ready business environment. Therefore, strengthening institutional frameworks will be essential along with the removal of non-tariff barriers and entering into robust trade agreements,” said Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister for Commerce & Industry, Government of India, at the Special Ministerial Session on Strengthening India-LAC Partnerships in a Changing Global Environment at the CII India-LAC Conclave held today in New Delhi. He further stressed that Renewable Energy could be a key area of collaboration. Almost 40% of the world's lithium reserves are housed in LAC countries. India would like to partner with LAC nations to process them jointly. Our businesses can collaborate on lithium processing, battery manufacturing and electric mobility to contribute to solving climate change challenges. The session was chaired by Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII. Other key dignitaries addressing the session were: • Honourable Mr Everly Paul Chet Greene, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Barbuda Affairs, Antigua and Barbuda • H.E. Ms Celinda Sosa Lunda, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Plurinational State of Bolivia • H.E. Ms Maria Luisa Hayem Brevé, Minister of Economy, Republic of El Salvador • H.E. Mrs Ursula Desilú Leon Chempén, Minister for Foreign Trade and Tourism, Republic of Peru • H.E. Ms Coromoto Godoy Calderon, Honourable Minister of Foreign Trade, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela • H.E. Ms Claudia Sanhueza Riveros, Vice Minister of International Economic Affairs, Republic of Chile • H.E. Dr Dr. Jorge Morales Paulino, Vice Minister for the Promotion of MSMEs, Dominican Republic • H.E. Mr Julio Eduardo Orozco Pérez, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guatemala • Sanjiv Puri, President, CII • Mukundan Ramakrishnan, Vice President, CII #CIIIndiaLACConclave Ministry of External Affairs, India CII International

Be part of an engaging dialogue over strengthening India’s global trade strategy with the LAC region, with Shri Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, at the10th CII India LAC Conclave, happening shortly in New Delhi! #CIIIndiaLACConclave #TradeAndInvestment #GlobalCollaboration #ConnectingNations Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India

"India’s journey in renewable energy has been one of the most transformative," stated Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs & Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India at the Session on Powering a Sustainable Future with Renewables at #CIIIndiaLACConclave She highlighted, that as of December 2024, India had expanded its renewable energy capacity by approximately 28 gigawatts across solar and thermal sectors—a trend expected to continue. She also emphasised the success of the solar rooftop scheme, launched in February 2024, which has already benefited over 1 million households, providing them with sustainable solar power. The goal is to expand this initiative to 10 million households by 2027. She also added, that additionally, India is making significant strides in the green hydrogen mission, positioning itself as a global green manufacturing hub. The country is committed to strengthening its role in solar energy and green hydrogen innovation. The session further explored innovative solutions in biofuels, battery storage, and fuel cells, with a particular focus on collaboration between India and the Latin America & Caribbean (LAC) region. Discussions emphasized the need for strategic partnerships in infrastructure, trade, and critical minerals, marking a pivotal moment for both regions to strengthen cooperation and investment. Chaired by Dr Dr. Rahul Walawalkar, President & MD, Customized Energy Solutions India, the other speakers on the session were: ~ H.E Julio Eduardo Orozco Pérez, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Guatemala ~ Paulina Durango, President, India Ecuador Cámara de Comercio , Ecuador ~ Atul Mulay, President – Bioenergy, Praj Industries ~ Abhinav Agarwal, Head - M&A and Strategic Initiatives, O2 Power India #CIIIndiaLACConclave

“The technology of India is very advanced and it can strengthen the relationship between India and LAC, and particularly Bolivia“, said Celinda Sosa Lunda, @Minister for Foreign Affairs, Plurinational State of Bolivia at the session on Strengthening Partnerships: Collaborative Pathways in Critical Minerals and Mining at #CIIIndiaLACConclave.   She highlighted how the regions can collaborate on different aspects of natural resources and looks forward to having stronger relations with India so that the regions can collectively work together while ensuring sustainability.   V L Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, Govt of India, in his special address at the session highlighted that “The National Critical Minerals Mission looks forward to the supply of critical minerals in the Indian industry in the coming years”.   He further emphasised that there are a total of 24 critical minerals, most of which are heavily imported. To ensure supply chain resilience and reduce dependence on other countries, it is essential to diversify sources and develop domestic reserves that we can control.   Chaired by Thomas M Cherian, Managing Director, Essel Mining and Industries Limited, the session attended by: •⁠ ⁠H.E Claudia Sanhueza Riveros, Vice Minister of International Economic Affairs, Republic of Chile · Santosh, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Coal, Government of India •⁠ ⁠Naveen Jindal, Chairman, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd.