Indonesian Ambassador to Japan Heri Akhmadi opened the Indonesia Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Business Forum – Japan Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Business Forum in Osaka, Thursday, October 6, 2022. The Farmalkes Business Forum activity in Osaka was held in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, the Indonesian Consulate General in Osaka, the Indonesian-Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Industry, IIPC Tokyo and ITPC Osaka as well as a number of Japanese partners such as the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Kansai, Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association of Japan (FPMAJ) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

This business forum was attended by more than 300 participants who attended offline and online presenting key speeches from the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health Kunta Wibawa and the Director General of the Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Textile Industry (IKFT) of the Indonesian Ministry of Industry, Ignatius Warsito. KADIN Indonesia in this activity led the presence of 15 Indonesian business delegates from 9 Indonesian pharmaceutical and medical device companies, including representatives from the Indonesian Medical Device Manufacturers Association (ASPAKI) and the Indonesian Pharmaceutical Company Association (GPFI).

Ambassador Heri explained, with a transaction value reaching USD 10.1 billion (equivalent to Rp. 153.8 billion) in 2021, the Indonesian pharmaceutical industry has great potential. "Indonesian representatives in Japan initiated this business forum in the pharmaceutical sector as a proactive step to support the concrete realization of the pillars of Global Health cooperation in the G20 Indonesia Presidency," said Ambassador Heri Akhmadi who was accompanied by Indonesian Consul General Osaka Diana Sutikno and Coordinator of Economic Functions of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo Rima Cempaka.

Secretary General of the Ministry of Health Kunta Wibawa in his keynote speech emphasized that Indonesia is focusing on the 6 main pillars of the transformation of the Indonesian health sector, which includes the transformation of basic services and hospitals, as well as a resilient health system. The Ministry of Health also invited partners from Japan to contribute to the development of pharmaceutical technology in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Textile Industries (IKFT) of the Indonesian Ministry of Industry, Ignatius Warsito, emphasized the commitment of the Indonesian government to encourage the independence of the pharmaceutical industry through the development of the raw material industry and efforts to improve regulations to improve domestic products.

The Head of the Indonesian Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Penny K. Lukito, through a video message ensured that he was ready to invite Japanese pharmaceutical industry players to establish wider collaboration with Indonesia through research and development of technology-based drugs.

The chairman of the KADIN Indonesia-Japan Bilateral Committee appreciated the initiative of the Indonesian Representative in Japan to participate in bridging cooperation between business people. According to him, KADIN is ready to support Indonesia-Japan cooperation in various sectors. Meanwhile the Director General of FPMAJ, Mr. Toshihiko Miyajima hopes for further collaboration with Indonesia in the field of Health.

As an outcome of the Farmalkes Business Forum, a commitment to cooperation between GPFI and its partners in Japan, the Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association of Japan (FPMAJ), has been signed, in particular to open contacts in co-production and research exploration.

Business forum activities were also coupled with various field visits and business meetings during 5 – 7 October 2022. There were about 38 business meetings and 5 locations for field visits, including the SYSMEX i-Square research center, Otsuka Electrics Factory, Fuji Film Wako Pure Chemical Factory, Pharmira Co.Ltd, and Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster.