Delegates participating from various parts of the World
Friends and print and electronic media
Ladies and Gentlemen
I am very happy to be present here to inaugurate the 7th
edition of Bio-Asia, a platform for Global Bio Business collaborations, being
held from 3rd to 6th February, 2010.
I was told that various delegations, namely, European
Commission (EC), Euro BioCat, Russian Biotechnology Society, Association of
German Biotechnology Companies besides delegations from UK, Denmark,
Switzerland and Austria etc., are participating in this prestigious
international event.
On behalf of Government of Andhra Pradesh, I extend a
warm welcome to all the delegates, who came from various parts of the World.
I complement the organizers of this event for bringing
together this knowledge forum of biotech and pharmaceutical companies across
the globe at Hyderabad today.
I understand that this conclave of biotech specialists
will serve as a medium to create new business partnerships, academic and
industrial collaboration to place India on the roadmap for biotech
excellence.
I do hope that the scientific community, the business
industry and financial institutions will jointly discuss and focus on how each
of them can work in tandem to make India the next biotech destination of the
world.
By establishing itself in several key niche markets, the
Asian biotech and pharma industries have thrived in the global
biopharmaceutical market and have seen significant growth in the recent years.
The Indian biotechnology sector valued at USD 2.86
Billion in 2007-08 is one of the fastest growing knowledge-based sectors and
is expected to play a key role in shaping India’s rapidly developing economy.
With a remarkable growth of 30% over the last few years in the biotech sector,
India has started attracting the Global Attention especially in the field of
clinical trials, contract research and manufacturing and other services of
Bio-pharma segment. Besides, India is the leader in global vaccine market
contributing to more than 33% at global market.
We, the AP Government are committed to promote this
State as a biotech research hub of the country. The need of the hour is
strengthening the biotech infrastructure in the State, providing support
capital and a resource pool of trained biotech professionals.
AP is a State with some of the most renowned institutes
in the biotech education with University of Hyderabad emerging as a top
biotech B-schools in India for 2008 in the cyber media survey. Each of these
institutes serves as a nerve centre for scientific creativity and feed into
India’s biotechnological capabilities. Along with Universities in AP, around
50 private engineering colleges are also offering Biotech courses at UG and PG
level.
The State is fortunate to have a large network of
research laboratories in and around Hyderabad. To name a few -
Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB)
Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics (CDFD)
International Crop Research Institute for Arid and
Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
Directorate of Rice Research (DRR)
Dr. Reddy’s Research Foundation (DRF)
Aurobindo Research Centre
ICICI Knowledge Park Ltd., are the important ones.
For India to emerge as a global biotech player, public
private participation holds the key. The combined potential of Government
support along with the country’s vast intellectual capital channeled in the
right direction with the experienced pharma and biotech companies can result
in India achieving path-breaking discoveries and biotech innovations.
Hyderabad has emerged as a leading example to all other
states. Keeping in the view of the gaining prominence for the biotech sector
in Healthcare, agriculture and other sectors, AP had unveiled Biotech Park and
Knowledge Park in Genome Valley in an area of 600 Sq. Kms is the India’s first
state-of-the-art cluster providing world-class infrastructure and notified for
biotech and allied industries for encouraging research activities, developing
human resources and establishing links between research institutions, academia
and industry. Over 100 biotech companies including 53 International biotech
companies in operation. Dupont Knowledge Centre, Nektar Therapeutics, Shantha
Biotech, Bharat Biotech, Biological E, GVK Biosciences and Dr. Reddy are some
of the players opted in the Genome Valley.
Having a pro-industry policy in place, AP biotech
industry cluster recorded revenue of Rs.2,188 crores in 2008-09 with 18.03%
share in the total biotech industry (next only to Maharashtra and
Karnataka).
The State has promoted Agri-Science Park in the ICRISAT
campus to achieve mandate to develop agriculture in the Semi-Arid Tropics
(SAT) and thereby reduce poverty and hunger and to protect the environment.
The other initiatives taken up the Government of AP are
creating Rs.125 crores venture capital fund which is first of its kind in the
country, International Animal Resource Facility in 100 acres for the
preclinical research, Biotechnology Incubation Centre (BTIC) with a total cost
of Rs.25 crores to foster the growth of start-up companies through provision
of specialized facilities, International Life Sciences Institute in 20 acres
of land to provide training in the advanced research in pharma and drug
discovery with a project cost of Rs.60 crores, Hosting Bio-Asia event
to recognize the outstanding efforts of distinguished scientists in the life
sciences sector.
Biotech Park, Phase-III in an area of 414 acres has been
developed and leading companies like Avesthagen, Globion, Indian
Immunologicals, Parsvnath Biotech, Alexandria has proposed to invest Rs.1,000
crore to create infrastructure of plug & play lab space. M/s. Lonza has
proposed to invest Rs.750 crores for R&D and bio-pharmaceutical manufacturing
facility in the AP Genome Valley.
US Pharmacopeia is setting up state-of-the-art
facilities with an investment of Rs.60 croes in Genome Valley which is the
first of its kind in outside US.
Other Major initiatives being taken by Government of
Andhra Pradesh include –
Setting up of Biotechnology Incubation
Centre in SP biotech Park.
Establishment of Institute of Life
Sciences at University of Hyderabad.
A Marine Biotech Park at
Visakhapatnam to focus on marine foods and fisheries.
A world class research facility for
conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES) in partnership with CCMB.
Agri-Science Park and Agri-Business
Incubator at ICRISAT.
Indira Gandhi Centre for Advanced
Research on Livestock in Kadapa District to promote Livestock vaccines and
products.
Setting-up of International Animal
Resource Facility in collaboration with Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR)
& National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) in Genome Valley.
I request all of you to work closely with Indian
Pharmaceutical Industry to promote the manufacture of good quality medicines,
dietary supplements etc. to improve the health and well-being of men, women
and children.
Before I conclude, I congratulate Prof.C.R.Rao, and
Prof. Janet Thornton, this year’s recipients of Genome Valley Excellence
Award.
I am very happy to announce that the “Bio-Asia
Innovation Award” introduced by Bio-Asia earlier to encourage our young
scientists / students will be awarded from this year onwards as
“Dr.Y.S.R.Innovation Award” and “Young Minds Award” as “Bio-Asia Genius Award”
for school children of 10th and Intermediate standard to encourage them in the
filed of Biotechnology.
I hope the deliberations in this Bio-Asia would be
meaningful and useful to all.
