💊 SLPMA Urges Policy Support to Drive Pharma as Sri Lanka's Next Export Engine

• National Push for Growth: SLPMA President Dinesh Athapaththu called for a national task force and policy framework to transition local pharmaceutical manufacturing into a major foreign exchange earner alongside apparel & textiles, tea, and ICT/BPM. • Strategic Industry Pillars: • Quality & Compliance: Maintain high standards across self-regulated manufacturing. • Innovation: Shift focus beyond standard generics to export-oriented, advanced products. • Workforce & Academia: Partner with universities to employ local science graduates in high-value jobs. • Ecosystem Expansion: Build domestic support industries (testing labs, packaging, bioequivalence centers) via PPPs. • Regulatory Speed: Speed up NMRA product registrations and introduce fast-track pathways for local products. • Global Market Context: With the global market valued at US$ 1.8 Tn, SLPMA highlights Sri Lanka's potential to emulate small-country models like Ireland and Singapore while leveraging proximity to India for technology and active pharmaceutical ingredients.