Drive down along the NH-8 highway from Surat towards Ahmedabad and one gets to view the numerous hoardings proclaiming “Welcome to the India’s most advanced pharma valley” – a state of the art pharmaceutical Special Economic Zone which has come up in Panoli, Bharuch District. The vibrancy is pretty much evident in the region as HBS Pharma SEZ gears up to attract pharmaceutical companies to launch their pharma manufacturing units in SEZ.
The setting up of SEZ zones in Gujarat, ready to offer world-class facilities and amenities, comes as no surprise. It is regarded as the state which attracts the most FDI and is also considered very investor friendly. The government of Gujarat also takes care of every law and order related to to the Gujarat Special Economic Zone. The flexible labour laws and easy exit options make the Gujarat SEZ zones lucrative. Gujarat SEZ has been generating high volume productivity by providing all the above-mentioned incentives and facilities that is highly necessary for an accumulation of the state's economy. Moreover as per the SEZ Act, Developers and unit-holders enjoy direct and indirect tax exemptions such as income tax, service tax, customs duty, excise, sales tax, VAT, stamp duty, octroi etc.
HBS Pharma SEZ is spread across 312 acres at Panoli in the Bharuch district of Gujarat. The SEZ is being developed by JB SEZ P. Ltd and promoted by Mumbai - based HBS Realtors Pvt. Ltd with IL&FS as a strategic equity partner. It offers small, large and medium parcels of land to various pharma companies with easy accessibility of skilled man power and adequate raw-material suppliers. Also, SEZ would offer core utilities, modern amenities and relevant infrastructure in order to provide a hassle free experience to draw top pharmaceutical companies to set up their units easily.
With all approvals and clearances in place, especially the notification received from the Ministry of Commerce & Industries (MoCI), environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MOEF) and master layout plan approved by the Industries Commissionerate; a unit holder can start the construction at site immediately.
Strategically the SEZ is located in the heart of the fully developed Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) estate in Panoli and is adjoining the Panoli railway station. “It is situated in the close vicinity of pharma and chemical hub, Ankleshwar. At the same time, the site is efficiently connected by road network to the industrial and financial towns of Baroda, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and forms part of the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai freight corridor. The nearest airports are Surat, Baroda and Ahmedabad and the nearest ports are Dahej and Hazira” said Kayvanna Shah, CEO of JB SEZ P. Ltd.
The master planning is structured and conceptualized by CPG Consultants, Singapore. Their enormous amount of experience and expertise in setting up world class SEZ’s is evident in their fine architecture, structural planning and design.
The SEZ is already secured from the neighbouring areas by a compound wall and one is welcomed to the site by beautiful lush green landscaping, which leads to an internationally designed gatehouse. The gatehouse standing tall at a height of 10 meters is imported from Australia and adds grandeur and elegance to the entrance of the processing zone of the SEZ. A sales and project office, which accommodates a customs office, bank and utility service providers is already set up. The internal concrete road network along with storm water drains and utility pipelines are already in place. Other common infrastructure like imported street lights, signboards, common security and surveillance inside the zone are live. “To summarize it all, infrastructure work of the SEZ is complete for pharma companies to start their units.” claims Shah.
The ready availability of general infrastructure and core utilities at site prompted Pune- based Sava Medica Ltd to set up their manufacturing unit in the SEZ. “We plan to set up a formulation plant here on the USFDA cGMP guidelines and are pleased to be associated with HBS Pharma SEZ, as it offers world class facilities, and scores high in terms of business viability due to its location near a pharma hub and great transport accessibility. We're in the midst of getting the requisite clearances and approvals and should commence activity at site shortly." reveals Vinod Jadhav, MD of Sava Medica LTD.
The gradual step for Shah is to set-up a social infrastructure within the SEZ. Residential units, educational institutes, healthcare facilities, recreational centres, hospitality etc shall be set up to compliment the units in the zone. Shah adds “Currently, we have received the necessary clearances and approvals from the Board of Approval, New Delhi, to create a township in the Non Processing Area. We expect to commence construction and offer these facilities in the next financial year and would be on par with the facilities provided in the processing zone.”
The SEZ aims to generate employment to the tune of about 15,000 (indirect) and 5000 (direct) and target exports from the pharma units in the region of about Rs 3000 crore per annum leading to further industrialisation of Gujarat. Shah signs off on a positive note stating “The core intent of HBS Pharma SEZ is to create the No.1 internationally known pharma hub and we are truly on course to achieve that milestone.”