Organized by the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries (BAPI), the three-day international exhibition is dedicated to strengthening and advancing Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry in the global market.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the inauguration hall of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Centre. Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, MP, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the event as the Chief Guest and formally inaugurated the 17th Asia Pharma Expo 2026 by cutting the ribbon. Following the inauguration, the Minister visited exhibitor stalls across the exhibition floor.

The opening ceremony was attended by senior government officials, industry leaders, top representatives from the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, and international delegates. The proceedings began with a welcome address by Dr. Md. Zakir Hossain, Secretary General of BAPI and Managing Director of Delta Pharma Ltd. Md. Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, Secretary, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, spoke as Special Guest.

As Guests of Honour, Mohammad Hasan Arif, Vice Chairman & Chief Executive of the Export Promotion Bureau, Ministry of Commerce, and Major General Md. Shameem Haidar, Director General, Directorate General of Drug Administration, also addressed the gathering. The presidential address was delivered by Abdul Muktadir, President of BAPI and Chairman & Managing Director of Incepta Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Commemorative crests were presented to the Chief Guest and all distinguished guests on behalf of BAPI.

In his address, the Health Minister, Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, described the pharmaceutical sector as a humanitarian business, recognising Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical manufacturers for producing life-saving medicines for the country and the world. He emphasised that effective healthcare cannot function without the support of a strong pharmaceutical industry. He assured stakeholders that the government would engage with industry representatives and take swift action to address the challenges and barriers facing the sector.

In his presidential address, Abdul Muktadir expressed confidence that with sustained policy support from the government, Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry would grow stronger and more competitive globally. He noted that while the global energy crisis has severely impacted medicine prices in many countries, including the United States, Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical sector has remained largely insulated from this disruption.

Special Guest, Md. Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, highlighted that events such as Asia Pharma Expo serve as vital platforms for knowledge sharing across the pharmaceutical manufacturing community. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing all forms of support for the continued development and growth of the pharmaceutical sector.

This year’s edition has brought together 400+ companies from 20+ countries, including China, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam. The expo showcased a wide range of technologies in pharmaceutical processing, packaging, APIs & excipients, analytical & laboratory instruments, cleanroom & HVAC systems, water management, and turnkey project services.

Notably, 200+ of the participating companies were from China alone, reflecting the strong and growing engagement of Chinese pharmaceutical technology suppliers with the Bangladesh market.

Over its 23-year legacy, Asia Pharma Expo has played an important role in driving innovation, collaboration, and industrial excellence in Bangladesh’s rapidly growing pharmaceutical sector. Since 2003, Asia Pharma Expo and Asia Lab Expo have served as the region’s only dedicated exhibitions covering the entire pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chain – creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, R&D specialists, and corporate decision-makers to explore new machinery, raw materials, packaging solutions, and laboratory innovations. These exhibitions have contributed significantly to Bangladesh’s transformation from an import-dependent market into a global exporter of high-quality generic medicines.