The government of Andhra Pradesh is in the process of preparing a detailed action plan for the promotion of pharmaceutical industry in the state. Concerned departments are said to be working on the details of the broad line instructions, which was approved during a recent meeting held at the behest of the chief minister.

The action plan includes the setting up of new pharma zones, announcement of a centre for excellence and a pharma development fund, to mention a few. While a five member team has already identified suitable area for developing pharma-chemical zone at Vizag, the education department is attempting to update the state curriculum to suit the human resource requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. The AP State Financial Corporation is to come out with the suggestions on the Pharma Development Fund (PDF).

Disclosing this to pharmabiz.com, T Gopal Rao, principal secretary, Industries, Government of AP, said that they have utilized the services of a reputed consultancy to frame the action plan. "All future pharma zones will be on the coastal areas. Along with Vizag, we have also identified certain areas in Nellore", he said.

However, the first one to be set up will be the Vizag zone and the government will be thinking of the second zone only after the first one is fully operational. He said that the pharmaceutical industry of the state could either shift their existing units or set up new projects there. "Whatever be the case, no expansions will be allowed in the present industrial estates", he said.

Rao said that the proposed Institute of Pharma Sciences and the Centre for Excellence will be coming up in the joint sector. It will have functional networking with institutes like CDRI, IICT and CCMB, he said. Similarly, the Pharma Development Fund will also be materialised through the joint participation of the state, central government and the industry.

The principal secretary informed that the state government has already got in touch with the centre to press the demand for a Pharma Export Council. "We are pursuing the matter which is already pending before the central government", he said. He informed that the meeting of the pharma task force will be convened soon after the details of the action plan are worked out by various departments. "The members of the taskforce will be taken into confidence before we give the final nod to the plan", he added.