Encouraged by the move to set up a Pharmaceutical cluster in Tamilnadu, the Kerala Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PMA) are conceptualizing plans to initiate a similar programme in Kerala. The proposal has been forwarded to the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) and the Industry Department of the state government.

As reported by Pharmabiz earlier, the pharmaceutical cluster in Tamilnadu led by the PMA has planned to acquire three acres of land for carrying out the research activities. A proposal has been sent to SIDCO for the allotment of the land. The proposal had also got the nod from the center. President of PMA Kerala, AMD Nambudiri, told Pharmabiz that the proposal was just mooted and there is a lot of work to be completed. A member of the PMA was also in Chennai recently to discuss the issue with their Tamilnadu counterpart.

The PMA has plans to set up a common testing lab, warehouse, common marketing facility etc in the proposed cluster facility. Rs 1 crore has been set apart for the common laboratory. About the location of the project, no decision has been taken as yet.

PMA feels that the key advantage of having a cluster is that it would turn out to be easy for getting government funding. That might also help to bring down the cost burden in testing, warehousing and marketing.