India's Commerce Ministry Holds Chintan Shivir to Boost Medical Device Exports

India's Department of Commerce organized a high-level Chintan Shivir at Vanijya Bhawan on Saturday, bringing together over 150 policymakers, industry leaders, and regulators to strategize on strengthening India’s medical device export ecosystem. 

Held in collaboration with the Department of Pharmaceuticals and the Export Promotion Council for Medical Devices (EPCMD), the meeting focused on the ambitious theme, "Achieving 30@2030," which aims to grow India's medical device market size to USD 30 billion by 2030.

Inaugurating the session, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal emphasized that India must evolve beyond its reputation as the "Pharmacy of the World" and establish itself as a premier global hub for MedTech manufacturing. 

While noting that India's medical device exports exceeded USD 4 billion in the 2025 fiscal year, he stressed that significantly expanding global market share will require a focus on high-value manufacturing, increased R&D investment, incremental innovation, and greater regulatory harmonization.

During the event, participants identified key priority areas to enhance manufacturing and export growth. 

Joint Secretary of the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Aman Sharma, underscored the necessity of a collaborative approach, urging both industry and regulators to prioritize the quality of medical device manufacturing. 

Additional Secretary and Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Lav Aggarwal, echoed the need for urgency, calling for the resolution of structural bottlenecks and the strategic use of trade policy measures to bolster India’s international footprint.

Industry representatives, including Forum Coordinator of AiMeD Rajiv Nath, also participated in the dialogue, advocating for continued government-industry partnerships to overcome global regulatory challenges and effectively scale domestic production. 

The Chintan Shivir featured three thematic sessions dedicated to exploring free trade agreements as gateways to new markets, developing manufacturing clusters and testing infrastructure, and refining regulatory frameworks to streamline approval processes through improved coordination with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO).

The insights gathered from this meeting are intended to guide the Department of Commerce in implementing actionable pathways that leverage India's manufacturing strengths to foster a more vibrant and competitive export ecosystem.

Source: ANI