Brands
India, Uzbekistan launch pharma and nutraceutical trade corridor
New partnership positions Uzbekistan as gateway to a USD 10 bn Eurasian health market
TASHKENT: India’s pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries are getting a new route into Eurasia, and it runs through Tashkent.
The ministry of health of the republic of Uzbekistan has partnered with nutrify today and pharma eurasia to launch a structured indo–cis pharmaceutical and nutraceutical trade corridor. The initiative aims to streamline market access for Indian and global companies into the commonwealth of independent states and the wider Eurasian region.
The corridor brings together government policy support, industry leadership and a commercial platform designed to translate high-level discussions into actual trade deals. Pharma Eurasia 2026, scheduled in Tashkent from 20 to 22 May, will serve as the main marketplace where these opportunities are expected to materialise.
The timing is significant. The dietary supplements market across the CIS is already worth more than $ 5.8 billion annually, while the wider Eurasian nutraceutical sector is estimated at $ 7 billion to $ 10 billion and expanding quickly. Demand is being driven by rising interest in preventive healthcare, the spread of organised pharmacy chains and growing consumer appetite for vitamins, botanicals and functional nutrition products.
For Indian exporters, the corridor offers a structured entry point into these markets. The initiative also comes as regulatory systems across several CIS economies are tightening, creating greater demand for quality-certified products.
Uzbekistan is positioning itself as the region’s health industry gateway. In recent years the country has invested heavily in pharmaceutical parks, industrial clusters and regulatory reforms designed to attract foreign investment and manufacturing partnerships. Tashkent’s pharma park is intended to provide overseas pharmaceutical and nutraceutical firms with a clear pathway to establish production or distribution bases with government support.
The new trade corridor operates on what organisers call a dual-city model. Strategic dialogue and industry leadership discussions will take place in Mumbai through the sumflex and c-suite summit platforms, bringing together global CEOs, regulators and investors. The commercial follow-through will happen in Tashkent at pharma eurasia, where partnerships, regulatory engagement and buyer connections are expected to move deals forward.
Pharma Eurasia 2026 is designed as a meeting ground for manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, contract development and manufacturing organisations, distributors and regulatory experts from across the region. Under the new partnership, the exhibition will also function as the annual marketplace for the Indo–CIS health trade corridor.
Beyond trade deals, the corridor’s agenda includes regulatory harmonisation, digitalisation of supply chains, investment facilitation and joint research opportunities. Nutrify today plans to deploy AI-driven regulatory intelligence tools to support compliance and cross-border nutraceutical trade.
The ministry of health of the Republic of Uzbekistan first deputy minister of health and chairman of pharmaceutical industry development agency Abdulla Azizov said Ubekistan is well positioned to act as a strategic bridge between India and the CIS region while building a transparent, technology-enabled trade ecosystem.
Nutrify today MTI executive director Khasim said the initiative connects global leadership dialogue in Mumbai with a structured commercial platform in Tashkent, helping translate strategic discussions into executable trade architecture.
Tricornio technologies vice president and pharma eurasia project director m. harikrishnan said the platform aims to create a long-term, policy-aligned ecosystem where innovation, compliance and cross-border healthcare trade can grow in a sustainable and scalable manner.
The ministry of health of the Republic of Uzbekistan chief international relations specialist Kamila Mirzaeva said the collaboration introduces digital tools and transparent frameworks into a more institutionalised trade architecture, while also encouraging joint ventures in manufacturing, technology transfer and regional expansion.
With demand for preventive health products rising globally, the new corridor could offer Indian manufacturers a fresh gateway into a fast-growing Eurasian market while reinforcing Uzbekistan’s ambition to become a regional pharmaceutical hub.
Brands
Devyani International names Sandeep Anand, Robinder Singh in key roles
Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee businesses see leadership refresh from April
MUMBAI: Devyani International has strengthened its senior leadership bench with a fresh set of appointments across its key brands, Pizza Hut and Costa Coffee, signalling a sharper focus on growth and brand momentum.
The company has appointed Sandeep Anand as chief marketing officer and business head for Pizza Hut. His appointment, approved by the board via a circular resolution on April 3, follows a recommendation by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee, as reported by CNBC-TV18. Anand will officially step into the role on April 6, 2026.
He takes over from Vijay Gogate, who currently serves as chief executive officer for Pizza Hut within the company’s operations. The move marks a strategic transition as the brand looks to sharpen its marketing and business playbook in a competitive quick service restaurant market.
Anand brings over two decades of experience across the food and FMCG sectors, with a strong track record in brand building and innovation. His career spans roles at major consumer-facing companies including Domino’s, Zydus Wellness, Zomato, GSK Consumer Healthcare, Reckitt and Ranbaxy, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both scale and agility.
Alongside this, Robinder Singh has been appointed business head for Costa Coffee and the company’s airport operations. He too will assume his new role on April 6, bringing more than 18 years of experience in operations, business expansion and customer experience transformation.
The twin appointments come at a time when Devyani International is doubling down on leadership depth to steer its portfolio through evolving consumer preferences and heightened competition. With fresh faces at the helm of two key verticals, the company appears set to brew up its next phase of growth with renewed energy.
