The bulk drug capital of the country Andhra Pradesh will soon get another dedicated pharmaceutical and biotechnology hub which will have the status of special economic zone (SEZ). The SEZ will be developed by Parshvanath Developers at Tattanaram village in Ranga Reddy district near Hyderabad. This will be the fifth SEZ being developed exclusively for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in the state.
According to sources, the company has already received central government's approval to set up the bio-technology and pharma SEZ over an area of 25 acres. The SEZ will be set up at Tattanaram village in Ranga Reddy district near Hyderabad. Though no details are available about the entire plan, the project will be completed within three years from the date of commencement of construction.
It can be noted that there are over four other SEZs being developed exclusively for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in the state.
The one that is nearing completion is the Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City being developed by Ramky Group. The company has recently announced the launch of Pharma Incubation Centre to facilitate manufacturing and research and development activities in the Pharma City with an investment of around Rs 170 crore. Total investment in Pharma City is around Rs 240 so far. Meanwhile the construction of SEZ area is expected to commence soon. The total investment on SEZ would be around Rs 200 to Rs 220 crore.
The Andhra Pradesh Infrastructure Development is developing pharmaceutical (formulation) SEZ in 101 hectare for which it got the notification in June this year in Jedcherla in Mahabubnagar district in the state. This is again a separate project from the up-coming biotechnology SEZ at Karkapatla in Medak district. Though the separate SEZs by these developers would be for overall industry, there are individual players who are also developing SEZ's for their respective manufacturing and formulation purpose.
The pharmaceutical major in the country Dr Reddy's Laboratories is also developing two SEZs to manufacture bulk drugs and formulations. This move can be related to DRL's decision to transfer manufacturing of drugs from its German arm Betapharm to India. The company would manufacture nearly 140 products of Betapharm in India. It would pool in around $ US 100 million to set up the SEZ's in Hyderabad and Srikakulam district respectively.
Another company from Hyderabad has also received approval for developing an SEZ in Chippada in Visakhapatnam in about 105 hectare area. The SEZ is being developed by Divi's Laboratories Limited, the city pharma major which has established a strong hold in pharmaceutical export. Hetero Drugs, a strong player in ARV segment is also developing 100 hectare SEZ. The company received notification for the same in January this year. This one also would be in Visakhapatnam.