Pharma Connect 2025: MoH UM delivered the opening speech

Union Minister for Health Dr. Thet Khaing Win attended and delivered an opening address at Pharma Connect 2025, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of India in Myanmar and the India-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce, held at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Yangon in the evening of July 25.

The Ambassador of India to Myanmar, Mr. Abhay Thakur, and President of India-Myanmar Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Naresh Kumar, each delivered welcoming remarks.

In his address, the Union Minister stated that India is Myanmar's fourth-largest trading partner, and economic and health sector collaborations are being enhanced. He noted that bilateral trade between the two countries reached 2.1 billion USD in 2024-2025.

The Union Minister highlighted that pharmaceutical and medical device imports are a major component of this trade, and Myanmar spends a significant amount of foreign currency annually on these imports. He pointed out that Indian-made pharmaceuticals and medical devices account for approximately 60% of Myanmar's market due to their good quality and reasonable prices. He then invited Indian entrepreneurs and investors to not only focus on importing and distributing pharmaceuticals but also to invest more in the domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. He emphasized that such investments would receive special exemptions and enable re-export to neighboring countries and ASEAN markets.

The Union Minister also expressed gratitude and appreciation for the rapid humanitarian assistance provided by the Government and people of the Republic of India during natural disaster emergencies, from Cyclone Nargis in 2008 to the major Mandalay earthquake in 2025, including the deployment of emergency medical teams to provide healthcare services Following the Union Minister's speech, discussions were held on the development of the domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing sector during a panel discussion.

Speakers included the Director-General from the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, the Director-General from the Department of Trade, the Director-General from the Department of Food and Drug Administration, representatives from the Central Bank of Myanmar, and representatives from the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.