Exhibition organisers CMPi have revised the venue and timing for the Brazil debut next Summer of their CPhI South America pharma ingredients and P-MEC pharma machinery and equipment exhibitions.

Being launched to serve one of the world’s fastest-growing pharma markets after China, the events will now debut at Rio de Janeiro’s new “Cidade Nova” Convention Center, on Tuesday 19 - Thursday 21 August 2008.

The mid-August timing ensures a minimum six-week logistics interval for exhibitors also taking part in early October’s CPhI Worldwide 2008 and P-MEC Europe 2008. Brazil’s newest convention facility, the 16,000 sq. m. “Cidade Nova” complex will be completed this Summer.

CPhI South America and P-MEC South America are being introduced against a market background of rapid growth and major opportunities triggered by changing legislation.

Latin and Central America represent a pharma market estimated at US $33 bn, with an annual growth rate of 13% - double the world average. Pharmaceutical majors and Indian companies are active across the region, where tougher patent legislation is creating demand for pirate copy drug replacements.

Mexico and Brazil together represent 65% of the market, with 35% and 30% respectively, followed by Argentina (9%) and Venezuela (6%). State healthcare policy sees Venezuela leading the annual growth league, at 20% - followed by Brazil at 18%.

South America’s pharma industry reflects a combination of national and international producers and partnerships that span the branded and generic sectors - and steadily increasing overseas activity by South American producers.

“Given the region’s pharma demand growth, CPhI South America is a logical and timely addition to the present family of CPhI events. We’re also excited by the very positive feedback from the industry since the event was announced in May”, said CPhI Events Director Annemieke Timmers.

She added: “The schedule change - from Sao Paulo in early September - places the event in a brandnew facility and at a better time for exhibitors already committed to Europe’s CPhI Worldwide, at the beginning of October”.

CPhI South America will be the fifth exhibition in the CPhI community, following the 2006 debut of CPhI India, where 11,000 visitors and over 300 exhibitors created a record CPhI launch event.

Held in Europe since 1990, CPhI Worldwide is the largest global pharma ingredients event, with over 22,000 visitors and 1,750 exhibitors. CPhI China was added in 2001 and CPhI Japan in 2002.