The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Shri N. Chandra Babu Naidu inaugurated the Pharma India- Biotech International- Interkama 2003 at Hyderabad on September 24 , 2003 at Hitex exhibition complex.
During his inaugural address, N. Chandra Babu Naidu, honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh said that a fair on biotechnology would be held at Hyderabad every two years. He said A.P. is leading in biotechnology which can be proved by the presence of number of biotech companies in the state. He said there are 328 biotech companies in India, of which 105 are from A.P. He expressed his desire to make Hyderabad a ‘Biotech Hub’. He said excellent infrastructure is being developed in the Genome Valley which is spread over 600 acres. He also expressed that through technology the industry can achieve anything.
Shri Chandra Babu Naidu said that there is an excellent scope for investment in India and it’s a very large market, which by itself is an added advantage. He said that there is development in all the biotech projects in the state. Phase-I and Phase-II of the Biotech Park are completed, and several companies have already occupied their space, whereas Phase-III and Phase-IV of the project is in progress. In the case of Shapoorji Pallonji Park, Phase-I is already completed and 162 acres had been allotted towards the Phase-II of the project.
Presenting the welcome address Dr. S. R. Nair, Managing Director of Biotech Consortium India limited (BCIL), one of the organiser of the fair, said that the fair has received overwhelming response, and has been a success, which is revealed by the number of major players in the industry that are taking part in the three exhibitions. There are a total of 137 exhibitors, out of which 23 are from overseas.
Introducing the exhibitions to the audience, Robert Schmidt, Managing Director, Cidex Trade Fairs Pvt. Ltd., another organizer of the fair, commented that Cidex is making its continuous effort in becoming a window to an endless economic development.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor D. Balasubramanian, Chairman, Biotech advisory Committee, Govt. of A.P., stated that Andhra Pradesh has a long history in the field of medicine. He mentioned the contributions of eminent personalities like Yellapragada, Ramalingiah, Sri Kutumbiah, T.R. Seshadri and Pinakapani, who hail from this part of the country. He appreciated the state government’s initiative in the formation of BCIL, biotech Advisory Committee, and setting up of Biotech Park, ICICI Knowledge Park, Green Genome Valley in the city of Hyderabad. He stressed the need on continuous partnership between the industry and the government in the development of Biotechnology and Pharma Industry. He expressed his hope that this meet at Hitex would pave way for new ventures and new partnerships.
In her presidential address, Dr. Manju Sharma, Secretary to Govt. of India, department of Biotechnology, said that Indian Biotechnology sector is expecting major breakthroughs shortly. She said Panacea Biotech and Jawahar Lal University together are working on developing an Anthrax vaccine. Work on development of new molecules and genes are underway. The A.P. Govt. is setting up an Incubation center.
After the inaugural address, a lay out for the proposed Marine Biotech Park in Vizag has been presented to the CM. Naidu has released the logo for Indus BioSciences, a new company that has been recently established. He had also handed over the allotment letters for three more companies to join Biotech Park. The companies are Jasmine Biologicals, JP Biotech and another company. It may be noted that 11 companies had signed already to operate at Biotech Park.