The first-ever ‘SCO B2B Conference and Expo on Traditional Medicine’ held under the SCO initiative concluded successfully on March 3, 2023, in Guwahati, Assam, generating an incremental trade interest of over ₹590 crores. The conference brought together buyers and sellers from 17 countries to explore trade potential in serving the needs of people. The event witnessed the participation of more than 150 delegates, including high-level officials such as health ministers, official delegates, and foreign buyers from SCO and partner countries.
The Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the conference and Expo on March 2, 2023. During the two days of intense meetings, more than 125 one-to-one meetings were conducted between buyers and sellers, with maximum interest seen in Ayurvedic medicines, herbal nutraceuticals, and Ayurvedic cosmetics.
The conference provided an opportunity for regulators, industries, and business leaders in all the SCO and partner countries to deliberate on various aspects of Traditional Medicine, such as products, services, education, skill development, cosmetics, and policies. The event aimed to unlock trade opportunities in traditional medicine amongst SCO and partner countries.
The Ministry of Ayush has been working on various initiatives under the SCO mandate. In February of this year, a virtual conference of experts and practitioners of traditional medicine was organized where experts from 25 countries of SCO participated. The draft terms of reference of the Expert Working Group on Traditional Medicine were also discussed during the conference.
India assumed the Presidency of SCO Council of Heads of State for the year 2023 on September 17, 2022, at Samarkand in Uzbekistan. Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi at the SCO summit at Samarkand remarked that India would take the initiative for a new SCO Expert Working Group on Traditional Medicine.
The successful conclusion of the conference and expo on traditional medicine reflects the growing interest in traditional medicine and the potential for SCO and partner countries to expand their trade and cooperation in this field.
