AMSTERDAM, April 26, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Continued double digit growth in the Chinese pharmaceutical industry is reflected in record visitor pre-registration levels and a sell-out of exhibition space at this year's UBM International Media China events - CPhI, ICSE, P-MEC and BioPh - which will run from June 2-4 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre.

Focusing on intermediates and APIs, CPhI China, along with co-located events - P-MEC for equipment, machinery and technology; ICSE for Contract Services; and, making its debut in China, BioPh for the biopharma sector - is the largest annual networking event for the Asian pharmaceutical community and is expected to attract over 20,000 visitors, including 7,000 from outside of China.

Projected to be the third largest pharma market globally by 2011 and second by 2020, China is both a large producer and consumer of medicines, making it an attractive market in terms of both sourcing and sales. Additional stimuli, such as changes to local GMP standards, which are being revised in 2010 to be more in line with international ones, are also making China increasingly appealing for Western visitors to the events, looking to access the many outsourcing and production efficiency partnering opportunities available in China.

The dramatic expansion of China's pharma industry is illustrated by the exponential growth experienced by UBM's portfolio of China events. The inaugural CPhI China in 2001 attracted under 200, mainly domestic exhibitors and 8000 visitors, while this year, the combined events portfolio will host 1,597 Chinese exhibitors and 100 international exhibitors from countries including India, the US, Germany and the UK.

Within the last 50 years life expectancy in China has almost doubled, commented Eliane van Doorn, UBM International Media's Group Director for Pharma events. With the burgeoning middle-class population aging, rapidly urbanising and adopting Western lifestyles, the Chinese market presents diverse, exciting opportunities for both domestic and international businesses.

Now in its tenth year, CPhI China was joined by ICSE China in 2005, P-MEC China in 2006 and BioPh China in 2010. The events benefit from the valuable support of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products (CCCMHPIE) and are organised in conjunction with UBM International Media's sister organisation, UBM Sinoexpo.

UBM International Media's CPhI family of events for the pharma ingredients and services sector includes Worldwide (Europe - October); Japan (April); South America (August) and India (December). Free on-line registration is available at: www.cphi-china.com and www.pmec-china.com.

Notes for Editors:

UBM International Media operates market-leading global exhibition brands and their complementary media products.

The CPhI pharmaceutical ingredients and related sector exhibitions currently number over 15 highly-regarded annual events. The portfolio also includes Informex (specialty chemicals), Food Ingredients, HBA (health beauty industry) and Sea Trade (cruise industry).

Worldwide locations for its events include China, India, Japan, North America, Brazil, Africa and Europe. More than 330,000 business professionals and marketers visit UBM exhibitions each year. The exhibitions portfolio is managed from Holland. UBM International Media has approximately 1,200 employees in the UK, US, Asia and Europe. See www.ubm.com

SOURCE: CPhI China

CONTACT: Media Enquiries: Impress PR, Europe: Richard Kerns,richard@impress-pr.com, +44-161-728-5880, or North America: Mark Button,mark@impress-pr.com, Tel +1-503-616-3817; or Company Enquiries: UBMInternational Media, Rob Sahi (CPhI), +31-20-40-99-5561, or Ian OMalley(ICSE, P-MEC, BioPh), +31-20-40-99-5526