Tahaluf launches CPHI Middle East as region’s premier pharma event

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Set to take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Centre from 10 to 12 December, 2024, this landmark event has garnered the support of the Saudi Ministry of Health and is held in partnership with the Events Investment Fund.

The event comes as Saudi Arabia emerges as a global leader in biotechnology, with an ambitious plan to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production, biomanufacturing, and genomics.

Further, the country's pharmaceutical market, the largest in the Middle East, is expected to reach $11.5bn by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate of 2.52%, according to market researcher Imarc Group.

Mohaned El Mahgoub, group director at Tahaluf said, “The Mena region, which is the world’s fifth largest pharma market, makes Saudi Arabia an important international meeting hub for the pharmaceutical community.

"It is a hugely attractive region for multinational pharma companies, with projected double-digit annual market growth until 2032. CPHI Middle East & Africa will be where the future of pharma unites to forge long-lasting partnerships that stretch across the Middle East, Africa and around the world.”

Healthcare and life sciences are among Saudi Arabia's most significant sectors and are key focuses of Saudi Vision 2030. Of the $333bn 2024 budget allocation, healthcare and social development expenditures account for roughly $57bn, the third-largest segment after general and military spending.

Milestone pharma expansion

Adam Andersen, executive vice president, Pharma, at Informa Markets said, "Our venture into the Middle East is a significant milestone as we celebrate 35 years of CPHI this year.

Given Saudi Arabia’s strategic location, coupled with an increasing demand for high-quality healthcare products, we're confident CPHI Middle East will deliver exceptional value to our stakeholders, exhibitors and attendees as we bring the heart of pharma to the Kingdom.

"This inaugural event also aligns with a key goal of Saudi Vision 2030 to double domestic manufacturing from 20% to 40%. With several international pharmaceutical companies already committed to setting up operations in Saudi Arabia, CPHI Middle East will build on that by drawing a number of key international brands eager to explore Saudi Arabia as a potential regional hub.”

Global pharma gathering

Tahaluf expects the event to be spread across 30,000m² of exhibition space, to attract 30,000 visitors, over 400 exhibitors, and more than 100 participating countries. It points to strong early-day support.

Major regional industry names are among early sponsors and exhibitor signings, including Sudair Pharma, Tabuk Pharmaceuticals, Hikma Pharmaceutical, Pioneer Company for Pharmaceutical Industries, Spimaco, Julphar, and Eipico, as well as Dallah Pharma, MS Pharma, Reddy's Laboratories, Zeta Pharma, and Dietrich Engineering Consultants.

Designed as an experiential event, CPHI Middle East will feature four dedicated stages – The Future, Innovation, Next-Gen Bio and Discovery - where experts will help delegates examine the latest industry trends, challenges and opportunities.

A headline speaker platform is taking shape, featuring prominent global industry leaders who have committed to addressing the gatherings. Among the confirmed speakers is Anil Kane, the executive director and global head of technical and scientific affairs at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Other notable speakers include Zakiya Al-Kurdi, who specialises in public policy and regulatory affairs at the US Pharmacopeia, and Claudia Palme, the senior executive advisor for strategy in the Middle East at PwC.

Strategic event expansion

Additionally, the lineup boasts influential figures such as Faisal Bin Dail, chairman of the National Committee for Pharmaceutical Industries and Baxter; Musaed Al Kholief Saudi, commissioner and health specialties strategy advisor at the secretariat general; and Bikash Chatterjee, president and chief science officer at Pharmatech Associates, a USP company. Hala Audi, chief executive officer of Unizima, will also contribute to the discussions, further enriching the event's diverse expertise.

CPHI Middle East is the latest in a raft of new vertical events to be launched in Saudi Arabia by Tahaluf - the strategic collaborative venture between Informa PLC, the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP) and the Events Investment Fund.

The launch of CPHI is part of Tahaluf’s major expansion strategy – the biggest single events expansion in Saudi Arabia’s history – in which the company is introducing over 20 new B2B and B2C titles into the Kingdom by the end of 2025, bringing more than $1bn in economic impact to Riyadh.