Lok Sabha Question No. 1509 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: SCO Conference for Promotion of  Traditional Medicine
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Pradeep Kumar Singh, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1509 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/07/2023

## 'SCO CONFERENCE FOR PROMOTION OF TRADITIONALMEDICINE'

## 1509: SHRI PRADEEPKUMAR SINGH: SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

(a) whether the 25 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) countries successfully came together in a conference organized under India's Presidency to promote traditional medicine and if so, the details thereof;

(b) the manner in which it is likely to be beneficial for India as all these countries contribute to the economic development, environmental protection and achieving the target of health security among them;

(c) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to further enhance the possibilities of development and coordination among the SCO countries in the global traditional medicine sector; and

(d) the way in which the traditional medicine industries in the country including Bihar and Gujarat are likely to be benefitted?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OFAYUSH

## (SHRI SARBANANDASONOWAL)

(a) Yes, the Ministry of Ayush organized the B2B Conference under the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Traditional Medicine from 02nd to 03rd March, 2023 in Guwahati (Assam). The Conference was inaugurated by the Hon'ble Union Minister for Ayush Shri Sarbananda Sonowal. The event witnessed active participation of the H.E. Dr. Thet Khaing Win, Hon'ble Union Minister of Health, Myanmar, Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai, Hon'ble Minister of State for Ayush and H.E. Safiyya Mohamed Saeed, Deputy Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, Maldives.

This Conference was attended by a total of 214 participants, out of which 83 were international delegates (including the Health Minister of Myanmar and the Deputy Health Minister of Maldives) from 16 SCO member states, observers and dialogue partner countries and 131 were Indian delegates. A total of 30 presentations have been made during the said event of which 19 were from SCO member states, observers and dialogue partner countries i.e. Kazakhstan, China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Myanmar, Mongolia, Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives and 11 presentations were also delivered by the Indian side i.e. 06 by the Ministry of Ayush's officials and 05 by the Indian Industry representatives. A total of 11 sessions were held during the said conference. Along with the B2B conference, a B2B Expo was also organized in Guwahati w.e.f. 02 nd to 5 th March, 2023.

(b) During the B2B Expo which was organized in Guwahati w.e.f. 02 nd to 5 th March, 2023, 56 Indian exhibitors including industries, educational institutes and Ayush services providers exhibited their products, institutions & infrastructure and 60 buyers from 11 countries showed a keen interest in the same. During the conference and the Expo more than 125 one-to-one meetings were held between buyers & sellers. These B2B meeting participants were from Tajikistan, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Bahrain, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and India.

10 Letter of Intents (LOIs) were received from across the industry. The trade interest was received from 13 SCO member states, observers and dialogue partner countries in the fields of Ayurveda Education, Traditional Medicine Products and developing Infrastructure for providing Ayurveda and Yoga for Medical Value Travel.

(c) One of the measures taken by the Government to further enhance the possibilities of development and coordination among the SCO countries in the global traditional medicine sector is the formation of Expert Working Group of SCO Member States on Traditional Medicine and adoption of its regulations by the SCO Member States.

(d) The Ministry of Ayush developed the central sector scheme for Promotion of International Cooperation for Ayush. This scheme is applicable to all the states in the country including Bihar and Gujarat. Under this scheme the Ministry provides support to Indian Ayush drug Manufacturers/ Ayush Service providers to give boost to the export of Ayush products and services; facilitates the International promotion, development and recognition of Ayush systems of medicine; foster interaction of stakeholders and market development of Ayush at international level; promote academics and research through the establishment of Ayush Academic Chairs in foreign countries and holding training workshop/symposiums for promoting and strengthening awareness and interest about Ayush Systems of Medicine at international level.

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