Ramky group setting up pharma incubation centres

Hyderabad: Ramky Group plans to create two distinct incubation centres for pharma companies near Vizag with an investment outlay of Rs 170 crore. Of this Rs 50 crore would be invested in phase-I to host 25 start-ups.

The Hyderabad-based civil and environmental solutions provider, now in the process of developing a pharma city near Visakhapatnam, expects to see investment of Rs 5,000 crore in the 600-acre special economic zone (SEZ).

Securing Land

The SEZ has confirmed participation of the following pharma companies: Aurobindo, Matrix, Orchid, SNF (France), Eisui (Japan), Pharmazell (Germany), Shasun, Biocon, Srini Pharma and MNR Biotech.

Addressing a press conference here today, the Chairman of Ramky Group, Mr A. Ayodhya Rami Reddy, said all of the land in the SEZ had been booked and the company is planning to procure more land to accommodate new companies.

The proposed pharma incubators would have two components, one that relates to support for research and development including common testing labs, and the other to manufacturing units that would be backed by common warehouse.

“This incubation facility is aimed at supporting small and medium scale industries, and we are in parleys with agencies like IL&FS and Andhra Pradesh State Finance Corporation, who have evinced interest in supporting small companies in their endeavour to bring out new products,” Mr Reddy said.

Pvt-public partnerships

The Managing Director of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, Mr B.P. Acharya, said that some of the public-private partnership initiatives such as the ICICI Knowledge Park, the Hitech City project with L&T, and the Raheja Mindspace, along with Ramky Pharma City, have begun to yield results.

Efforts have been initiated to strengthen such associations in different industries. The ICICI Knowledge Park would be expanded and fourth and fifth units would be ready soon, Mr Acharya said.

The President of Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association, Mr Narayana Reddy, said that all the major pharma companies in the country, including that of Dr Reddy’s started as small scale industries and have grown to be world class companies.