Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has called for setting up a network with foreign biotech companies willing to collaborate with Indian companies. He also called for establishing links between universities and the industry to bridge the gap between discovery and drug development. Naidu was speaking after inaugurating the three-day international Biotech Invest-2003 in Hyderabad on Friday.

Organised by the Federation of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) and All-India Biotech Association, Southern Chapter, the conference is aimed at providing a platform to industrialists, scientists and investors in biotechnology to identify opportunities and exchange views. The conference is sponsored by Genome Valley, Government of Andhra Pradesh, and Ernst &Young.

While the Chief Minister's focus was on attracting more foreign investment, Dr D Balasubramaniam, Director of LV Prasad Eye Institute, gave a roadmap for the development of biotechnology in the state. Speaking on Indian BT Scenario - Focus on AP, he said the state should persuade a few global BT majors to come and set up their facilities here to give a boost to the industry. "We need to get a few big fish. Get one or two global giants like Pfizer, Astra Zeneca or Syngenta. This will have a snowfall effect," he told the Chief Minister. He also asked the government to speed up the proposed animal research facility and the Institute of Life Sciences.

The Chief Minister said the government was making all efforts to promote the new industry. He said a clear lead in biotechnology would be given as 75 of the total 200 odd biotech companies were located in Andhra Pradesh. He said besides the several infrastructure facilities like the Genome Valley, ICICI Knowledge Park and the Biotech, the government had set up a Venture Capital Fund to promote new companies. While Andhra Bank had contributed Rs 10 crore towards this fund, International Finance Corpn (IFC) had offered Rs 100 crore to help the small and medium sized companies.

Naidu wanted to know what best methods science and technology could offer to eradicate poverty and promote healthcare in the state.

In his keynote address, Dr William Chong, Managing Director, Pacific Healthcare Holdings, Singapore, said with advances in science and biotechnology, now many traditional diseases could be identified, contained and treated. The paradigm had shifted and the focus was much on quality of life as it was on survival.

He said the trend towards cutting-edge technology must not be at the expense of patient-centric medical care. The healthcare service was not like any other industry and core values of care, compassion and community service must take precedence, he said.

Pacific Healthcare Holdings had signed a MoU in Singapore recently to start a Biomedical Research Centre with stem cell research facilities and a maternity hospital in Hyderabad.

Dr B S Bajaj, Chairman, All-India Biotech Association, Southern Chapter and Organising Chairman of Biotech Invest 2003, said India's share in the global BT industry was less than two per cent. The US accounted for 46 %, Japan 24 % and Europe 16 % of the total biotech market of $ 45 billion. It was a disappointing scenario for India, he said. He said the inter-active sessions would focus on the investment opportunities in biotechnology, including entrepreneurship, financial options, venture capitals, critical issues in product /process development, contract research and clinical trial opportunities.

K Vidyadhar Rao, Minister for Major Industries, the guest of honour, released the souvenir, while B Gopalakrishna Reddy, Minister for Biotechnology & SSI, released a Directory of Biotech industries and institutions in AP.

sOmprakash Tibrewala, president, FAPCCI, said the most important sector which had been revolutioned by the application of biotechnology was the healthcare sector. It was now possible to come up with new biotech-based vaccines for hitherto difficult diseases like HIV, cancer, diarrhoeal diseases and malaria

The conference also marked the launching by the Chief Minister of some bioproducts and bioprojects, which included Bronco-T, a herbal drug for Asthma and allergy by Surya Pharmaceuticals, Varanasi, a brochure on the stem cell research project by the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences, Tirupati, a National Animal Resource Facility for Biological Research at Genome Valley by ICMR, and a project to set up a drug discovery centre by the San Diego-based Genomik Design Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

Additional Director of ICMR, Dr Padam Singh, announced details of the National Animal Resource Facility at the Biotech Park with an investment of Rs 200 crore to meet international norms for biotech and pharma products. The government has allotted 100 acres for the project in the second phase of the Biotech Park.

Delegates from the US, UK, Australia, Israel, Germany, Japan, Korea, Singapore besides India are taking part in the inter-active sessions. More than 30 papers will be presented on various subjects.