Gujarat accepts Centre's proposal to set up three pharma parks

Ahmedabad : The Gujarat government has accepted the Centre's proposal for setting up three industrial parks in the state for manufacturing medical devices, pharmaceutical formulations and bulk drugs.

The proposal was made by Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ananth Kumar at an event here and quickly accepted by Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.

In his inaugural address at "Pharmac India-2016", an exhibition of pharmaceutical industry, Kumar requested the Gujarat CM to accept his ministry's proposal to set up a medical device park, a pharmaceutical formulations park and a bulk drug manufacturing park.

"The Centre is ready to give all kind of support to Gujarat if they are ready to start these parks in the state. Each park would require at least 200 acres of land. Central government is ready provide several facilities for these parks, such as effluent treatment plant and roads," the Union Minister said.

"With such facilities to be given by the Centre, manufacturing cost would come down almost 30 per cent. It would make our Pharma products globally competitive. I appreciate that Rupani has assured to allot land for these parks," said Kumar.

While talking to reporters after the event, Rupani said his government would start the work for identifying and acquiring the land for these parks at the earliest.

"The state government is very positive about these parks and we will do our best to see that these parks come up at the earliest. These parks are having a huge potential to provide employment opportunity to local youths and make Gujarat a global pharma hub," said Rupani.

The CM also assured that around 300 generic medicine stores 'Jan Aushadhi Kendra' would come up in different parts of state soon to provide cheap medicine to poor citizens.