|
The Andhra Pradesh government is contemplating to set up two big pharma clusters, one in Visakhapatnam (Vizag) and the second one in Nellore district of the state. Both the new clusters are expected to spread over 2,000 and 3,500 acres respectively.
“The Andhra Pradesh government is very much pro-active in ushering the development of pharmaceutical industry in the state. After bifurcation, though the state had lost a major chunk of pharma industry to Telangana, it has given us the opportunity to expand the industry’s base in AP. We can learn many things from the past wrong doings and set up the upcoming industrial clusters in a more planned manner which would not only help protect the environment, but can also incorporate the new advancement in the manufacturing and quality maintenance standards,” opined, S V Krishna Prasad, managing director and CEO of Cito Healthcare Private Limited.
Already, the state of Andhra Pradesh has well developed and most advanced Jawarharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC) built over 2,200 acres at Parawada in Vizag. With the state government adding another cluster in the same region it would give a double boost to the new investors as most of the ancillary units required will be in the same vicinity. With this, Vizag will have two pharma clusters, one at Parawada and the other is being finalized in the nearby vicinity to the existing one.
“we are looking at procuring vast chunks of government land for the newly proposed pharma clusters at Vizag and Nellore. Very soon the APIIC along with the industry department will submit a report to the government and based on that we will take a final decision,” informed a senior officer in the government.
Industry experts believe that in spite of AP loosing pharma industry to Telangana, the state has huge potential for expanding the base. The sea cost is one of the most advantageous aspects for the bulk drug industry. “Sea helps us in dumping the treated waste and it will resolve the major pollution problem for the bulk drug industry. Moreover it will also provide cheap maritime transportation of pharma products which can easily be exported or imported through ports,” observed Prasad.
At present the JPNC pharma city is full with units and the second locality is expected to house a bigger pharma city. Nakkapally in Vijaynagaram district is also having a big plant near to Anakapally. Adding to this, the state government’s plan to build another cluster in Nellore is also being looked as positive signals for the pharma and biotechnology investors in the state.
Overall the port city of Vizag with its unique location gives the state many advantages to attract the pharma companies. The government is proposing to house offices of statutory and regulatory bodies in a common administrative complex at the port city.
Andhra Pradesh would be one of the future logistics centre with rail, road, air and sea connections and hence, would be a promising area for pharmaceuticals and research activities.
|