Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The stage is set for the biggest global event on traditional wellness system as the 4-day 9th World Ayurveda Congress (WAC) and Arogya Expo kicks off in this capital city of Goa tomorrow, seeking to infuse new dynamism in Ayurveda as an authentic and affordable holistic healing system with an increasingly global footprint.
‘Ayurveda for One Health’ is the focal theme of the December 8-11 showpiece eventwhich will witness an assemblage of more than 4,500 registered participants, including over 400 foreign delegates from 53 countries.
Organised by the World Ayurveda Foundation, an initiative of Vijnana Bharati, with the support of the Union Ministry of AYUSH and Govt. of Goa,it will strive to hammer out a roadmap leading to globalisation of Ayurveda and harness its potential as a reliable, scientific and prevention-oriented healthcare system.
The conclave, being attended by the UN’s World Health Organisation for the first time, is packed with six plenary sessions and the like number of concurrent sessions besides 20 associate events such as International Delegates Assembly, WHO event on Traditional Medicines, and Guru-Shishya Meet. In addition, there will be around 3,800 abstracts for oral, e-book and poster presentations.
Major topics to be deliberated include Expanding the Scope of Ayurveda—New Age Prospects; Innovations and Entrepreneurship; Ayurveda Education; Ayur Informatics; Innovation Ecosystem; Health and Environment; and Heal in India.
Being held in the backdrop of daunting health challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a key topic of discussion is ‘Facing Pandemic with Ayurveda.’
There will be 150 invited keynote speakers from the world of Ayurveda which will witness narration of success stories, Ayurveda expo and cultural programmes, including a documentary film festival on Ayurveda.
Goa Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and Union Minister for AYUSH Shri Sarbananda Sonowal will inaugurate the meet, which will also be addressed by Union Minister of State for Tourism Shri Shripad Yesso Naik and Union Minister of State for AYUSH Dr Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will address the valedictorysession on December 11, underlining the magnitude and significance of the event being held in Goa for the first time.The PM had recently announced AYUSH visa to develop tourism, health and wellness centres in the country.
Shri Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Union Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy), and Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary Department ofBiotechnology, will be among speakers at the plenary sessions.
The event will also host a buyer-seller meet displaying quality products and services from leading Ayurvedic drug manufactures and wellness institutions such as Baidyanath, Dabur, Himalaya, Jiva Ayurveda, Maharishi Ayurveda, Kerala Ayurveda, Charak, Emami, Nirogstreet,Nagarjuna Herbal Concentrate, Sandu Pharmaceuticals, Sree Dhootapapeshwar Limited, Sri Sri Tattwa, SKM Siddha, Somatheeram, Vaidyaratnam, and Sri Sri Ayurveda.
In addition, all leading brands representing Ayurveda hospitals will mark their presence such as Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal, Madhavbaug, Vaidyaranthnam,Sreedhareeyam, and AIMS.
There are also techno services such as Atreya Innovation’s Nadi tarangini (pulse monitor) and clinic management software companies besides consultancy firms, research and production outsourcing centres, resort n spa, cosmetic manufacturers, educational institutions, National Ayush Mission state units, NGOs, book publishers and online service providers.
Among the foreign companies are Fleur Himalaya (Nepal); International Institute of Solutions and LYBL – Live Your Best Life (both from USA), and Alveda Life (Russia).
Another feature of the event is the presence of veterinary Ayurveda companies.
The Arogya Expo, a popular component of the WAC, will be attended by215 companies and Ayurveda-related educational and R&D institutionsshowcasing advances in AYUSH systems of medicine. It has pavilions from Ministry of AYUSH, Quality Council of India (QCI), AYUSHEXCIL and Ayurveda Colleges, The National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB),The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) and Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM). There will be a huge display of medicinal plants whilethe AYUSH Pavilion will display all traditional medicine streams of the country. Ayush Clinics have been set up will provide services free of charge for the general public.
Launched in 2002, WAC provides a global platform for all the stakeholders,including industry leaders, practitioners, traditional healers, educationists, students, medicine manufacturers, growers of medicinal plants and marketing strategists, for networking and engaging in intellectual exchange to strengthen the Ayurveda sector, envision its future, and facilitate interaction between professionals and consumers to boost Ayurveda commerce.
The market size of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) sector in the country has grown from USD 3 billion in 2014 to over USD 18 billion now, clocking a phenomenal growth of six times. During 2014-2020, the AYUSH industry grew 17 per cent year-on-year while Ayurveda market is predicted to grow at 15 per cent CAGR from 2021-2026.
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