LONDON, July 16 /PRNewswire/ --

- Sao Paulo will host in 2009 after Rio debut this August

CMPi events for the fast-developing pharma markets of South and Latin America debut next month. Rio de Janeiro will host the twin launch of the CPhI South America pharma ingredients and P-MEC South America pharma machinery and equipment exhibitions on Tuesday 19 - Thursday 21 August. Sao Paulo will then host the 2009 events.

The launch exhibitions will be held at Brazil's newest convention facility -- the Centro de Convencoes Sulamerica at Cidade Nova, opened last Summer. Main exhibition hours are 13.00 - 20.00.

Over 160 companies and organisations have booked to exhibit and the shows were fully sold a few months before the event. Visitor registration and the latest exhibitor list for the twin events can be found via www.cphi-sa.com and www.pmec-sa.com.

Valued at approx. US $33bn., and with a 13% growth rate -- double the world average -- the markets of Latin and Central America are joining China and India as regions of dramatic future opportunities for pharma-related services.

High interest in CPhI and P-MEC South America has already brought confirmation that the second year's exhibitions will be held on 26 - 28 August 2009, at Sao Paulo's Transamerica Expo Center.

Providing coverage across the pharma ingredients, contract services and production equipment sectors, co-location of CPhI and P-MEC will ensure a high level of networking and business opportunities in a single event visit.

To help market newcomers, the first event day (19 August) will feature the "First Latin American Pharma Business Forum". The six-session morning forum will provide a Latin America market overview, inform about the major requirements of business with and in Brazil, and import/export and regulatory requirements.

To connect buyers and sellers, "Match and Meet" networking sessions will be offered between 15.00 and 16.00 on 19 August and between 11.00 and 12.00 on the second and third event days. Full programme details can be found at www.cphi-sa.com. Deadline for online registration is Friday 25 July.

In a further networking benefit, the exhibitions coincide with Brazil's "6th Technical-Scientific Pharmaceutical Production Congress", also being staged at the convention centre over the same three days. Programme and registration details for the Congress -- the country's largest event of its type with 40 sessions across three tracks -- are at: www.pharmacongress.com.br. Note that the Congress language is Portuguese.

CMPi Pharma Portfolio Group Director Eliane van Doorn commented:

"With 30% of the market and an 18% growth rate, Brazil is the natural host for the latest regional debuts of CPhI and P-MEC. Brazil enjoys a strong and growing presence by international market-leading companies, is a key regional manufacturing centre and increasingly important for clinical trials.

And she continued: "Following the success of both CPhI and P-MEC in India, events for the fast-growing South American markets -- including Mexico, Argentina and Venezuela -- were the logical next step in extending the brands. We've been delighted by the market reaction and strong bookings".

Key national organisations supporting the first CPhI and P-MEC South America events include: ABRIFAR -- the Brazilian Association of Importers and Distributors of Pharmaceutical Ingredients; ABIMIP -- the Brazilian Association of the OTC Medicine Industry; ABIQUIF -- the Brazilian Pharmochemical Producers Association; ABIFINA -- the Brazilian Association of the Fine Chemistry, Biotechnology and its Specialties Industries; Alanac -- the Association of National Pharmaceutical Laboratories; PRO-GENERICOS -- the Brazilian Association of the Industries of Generic Medicines and Sindusfarma -- the Pharmaceutical Industry Syndicate of Sao Paulo.

CPhI is the leading global event brand for pharma ingredients. P-MEC was created as a specific platform for pharma manufacturing machinery and equipment and launched in Madrid in 2005, alongside CPhI Worldwide.

Notes for Editors:

Together, CPhI, ICSE and P-MEC provide integrated coverage of all main pharma services sectors. Held in Europe, CPhI Worldwide is the world's largest pharma ingredients event. The contract services and machinery events were added to meet demand for dedicated exhibitions, but with critical mass and proven networking value of the CPhI brand.

-- CMP Information (CMPi) is the UK-headquartered B2B communications division of United Business Media plc (UBM). Operating internationally, CMPi delivers targeted integrated business media solutions to around 20 industry sectors.

Its products, including magazines, exhibitions, conferences, awards, information products and websites, target marketers, buyers and sellers across a range of markets. These include Construction and Architecture, Commercial Property, Food and Pharma Ingredients, Security, Interiors and Licensed Trade.

-- Amongst its well-established brands are industry-leading publications such as Building, Property Week, The Publican and Farmers Guardian. It also has a number of exhibitions recognised as the pre-eminent events in their respective market sectors; these include CPhI, The Interiors Event and IFSEC.

-- CMPi's magazines reach over 780,000 readers directly through subscription and controlled circulation. More than 330,000 business professionals and marketers visit its exhibitions each year. CMPi has approximately 1,200 employees in the UK, US, Asia and Europe and in 2007 generated over 190m pounds in revenues. See www.cmpi.biz

Web site: http://www.cmpi.biz

Gudrun Dohl (CPhI), +31(0)346-559-461, or Ian O'Malley (P-MEC), +31(0)346-559-426, both of CMP Information; or Roger Johnstone of Gyro PR, +44(0)161-614-1450