Andhra Pradesh government has facilitated more than 50 companies in the biotechnology sector with required support to invest in the state. Total investment in this sector is expected to cross Rs 200 crore (Rs 2 billion) in the next five years to provide employment to more than 1,000 people at the technical level, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy said on Thursday evening.
Inaugurating the three-day Bio Asia 2007, an event organised by the state government to promote the global bio-business opportunities in the state, Reddy said the conference has attracted 750 delegates and 28 foreign scientists and 15 Indian scientists as keynote speakers at various sessions. Delegates have come from the US, Europe, Italy, China, Turkey and various other Asian countries.
"Our government is prepared to accept the global challenges in the fields of biotechnology and information technology. We cannot lag behind in these advanced technologies.
"We have already taken several steps in promoting biotech industry. Creation of Genome Valley, the first biotech cluster, establishment of biotech parks and special economic
zones in various parts of the state along with the agri-biotech park at ICRISAT are already creating a congenial environment for promotion of biotechnology in the state," he said.
"We have already created Venture Capital Fund for biotech industries for the first time in the country. The state government is in the process of setting up an international resource facility in collaboration with the Indian Council for Medical Research and National Institute of Nutrition in Genome Valley. The proposed facility would assist Genome Valley in attracting drug discovery companies to pursue pre-clinical research in the state," he pointed out.
The Government, in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology, is setting up Biotechnology Incubation Centre in the SP Biotech park. Indian Institute of Chemical Technology would provide the required scientific and technical inputs to set up the
Incubation Centre.
The BTIC is launched with joint funding of the Government of India and the State Government with a total project cost of Rs 25 crore (Rs 250 million). The Incubation Centre would be operational by March 2007.
The government has also partnered with the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in establishing the Laboratory for Conservation of Endangered Species, which is a world class research centre for conserving wild life.
This centre had been dedicated to the nation recently by President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. The state government also proposed to set up AP Department of Biotechnology to facilitate overall development of biotechnology sector in the state.