The Hindu Business Line : Gujarat seeks marine biotech park

GUJARAT has sought a marine biotechnology research institute funded by the Union Government in the State to conduct research and development for medicines and crops.

"Gujarat has a 1,600 km coastline that is ideally suited for carrying out research in marine biology. We also have a vast talent pool in the State. The Centre should help us establish an institution where cutting-edge technology of tomorrow can be developed. Our coast is often described as virgin. We want to harness the potential of this virgin coast to the State's and nation's advantage," the Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, said at Bio-Gujarat, a two-day conference on biotechnology organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry here.

The Chief Minister said that work on the biotechnology park and research centre linked to the MS University in Baroda was progressing well and the facility would be operational soon.

Pointing out that Gujarat-based companies like Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd had been investing in biotechnology, he said that Gujarat had proposed a Venture Capital fund and would soon initiate a dialogue with insurance companies for an insurance scheme to nurture the nascent industry.

"In our country, information technology is the favourite child of State Governments and industry alike. We are the only State that has given the same concessions and facilities to both IT and biotechnology because I believe that the future holds great promise in this field. We even confronted the Union Environment and Forests Ministry on the issue of Bt cotton a couple of years ago and we would continue to nurture biotechnology in the State," Mr Modi said.

Former Department of Biotechnology Secretary and noted expert in the field, Dr Manju Sharma, said that developments in biotechnology would have to be dovetailed with environment concerns and the industry should strive for affordability for the fruits of new technology to reach the poor.

The thrust areas for biotechnology in the country include cheaper medicines, especially for diseases like cholera and tuberculosis, transgenic varieties of crops that are resistant to pests and unpredictable climate and yet hold greater nutritional value Dr Sharma said.

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