The Bulk Drug Cluster (BDC) of Thane-Belapur belt at Mumbai, developed as a joint project by Small Industries Service Institute under ministry of SSI and the Thane Belapur Industries Association (TBIA), has recorded a 70 per cent growth in the last three years.

The cluster project, which supported the 16 API manufacturers from the year 2004 to comply with quality standards and to develop business strategies, has an increase in turnover from Rs 130 crore to Rs 220 crore in three years, while 30 per cent of the growth was recorded in the last financial year, according to the officials.

The export business of the units in the cluster has almost doubled to Rs 95 crore from Rs 50 crore. The SISI has handed over the cluster project to the 'Trans Thane Creek-Bulk Drug Consortium' formed by the TBIA by March 2007, as the project has matured. However, the Institute will continue its support to the cluster for exports, technical upgradation of facilities as per the revised Schedule M standards and to comply ISO 9000 standards, according to G M Ambhore, director, SISI.

"Though we have handed over the project, we will support the units in the bulk drug cluster to excel in various areas as per their requirements. The support, we are planning to continue, will enable them to increase their presence in domestic and export business, like extending help to conduct technological seminars, aid to participate in trade shows and Rs 75,000 reimbursement to each unit for ISO 9000 compliance etc," said Ambhore.

The SSI ministry has invested around 81 per cent of the total expenditure for developmental activities including setting up of common facilities for raw material collection and drug testing in the three years induced cluster project. While the government has invested Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh for setting up common facilities, the estimated investment figures for the BDC has been increased from Rs 50 crore to Rs 70 crore.

During the period, the small scale units has increased the investment from Rs One crore to Rs 1.5 crore per unit and the large and medium scale units about Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore per unit, according to the end project report of BDC issued recently. Out of the 19 units in the cluster area, three units are in the large and medium sector. The BDC is contributing about 3 per cent of the total API production of the country.

The Cluster Development Core Committee (CDCC) of the BDC consists of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil), Indian Drug Manufacturers Association (IDMA), Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Cluster Guarantee Fund Trust for Small Industries (CGTSI), National Small Industries Corporation Ltd (NSIC) etc.