The Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) became the first regulatory body in the country to enter into a strategic partnership with 18 pharmaceutical organisations from across India and abroad, to focus on knowledge sharing and other innovation based programmes. The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed on January 11 during the inaugural function of the Vibrant Gujarat (VG) Summit 2013, will focus extensive training programme and interactive session between the state regulators and the other signatories.
 
This initiative keeps up with this year's theme that focuses on exploring knowledge sharing and networking initiatives. Considering the widespread importance of this event, the Gujarat government had received about 38 proposal from across the globe which after sifting through rigorous process was finalised to the selected 18 organisations.
 
Through this partnership, the state regulatory office will be closely working with different pharmaceutical organisations, educational and research institutes, clinical research institutes, etc. on various research and innovation based programmes. Dr H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat FDCA informed that this is a huge achievement for them considering that they have been able to garner interest from so many organisations to ink pact with a regulatory body for training and other knowledge sharing activities.
 
“We are very excited and happy with this development as it highlights the trust the industry and educational institutes hold in us. Through this initiative our main focus will be on upgrading and updating the regulatory process of the state to meet with all the global regulatory compliances and requirements as and when needed. We will also be involved in cross training sessions which will be beneficial for both the industry as well as the regulatory officials, to keep up with the latest compliance and regulatory challenges,” Dr Koshia added.
 
Some of the important organisations with which the Guj FDCA had agreed to work on continuous process are DIA, IPGA, PERD & NIPER Centre, etc. to name a few.
 
Apart from this, in a major boost to the trade and business opportunities generating from the state, the VG 2013 Summit was able to attract an investment of Rs. 5943 crore into the state from pharmaceutical sector alone. This is by entering into an MoU with 133 companies from the pharma sector across the globe, creating a potential employment opportunity for about 23, 700 people.
 
VG summit is a two-day biennial event organised by the Gujarat government with an aim to bring together business leaders, investors, educational and research institutes, corporations, thought leaders and policy makers to invest in the state.