The Hindu Business Line : AP to take up phase III work on Genome Valley

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Hyderabad Feb. 16 The Andhra Pradesh Government plans to take up the third phase of the Genome Valley project on a 300-acre site to be developed by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd.

Inaugurating BioAsia-2007, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, while announcing the third phase of Genome Valley project, has said that the State plans to carve out a separate department for biotechnology from the Department of Industries for a better focus to the sector.

State Initiatives

The State supported about 50 biotech companies in the Genome Valley thus far and expects to step up support.

Dr Reddy said that the State plans to step up efforts to promote biotechnology by the creation of a Genome Valley, the first biotech cluster, establishment of biotech parks and special economic zones in various parts of the State to attract biotech firms.

Referring to other major initiatives of the State, he said these include setting up of a international animal resource facility in collaboration with the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Nutrition in the Genome Valley.

Alongside, efforts to expand this include setting up of a biotechnology incubation centre in SP Biotech Park and establishment of an institute of life sciences at the University of Hyderabad.

Marine biotech complex

The Marine Biotech Park at Visakhapatnam, spread across 218 acres, will host a marine biotech complex to focus on marine resources apart from research on marine foods, nutraceuticals and fisheries.

These initiatives are complimented by projects such as LaCones, a laboratory for conservation of endangered species and wild life in the country.

CALL FOR SYNERGY

The Chief Minister called upon the BioAsia participants to work closely with Indian pharma industry to promote the manufacture of medicines, dietary supplements aimed at improving health and well-being.

Prof G. Padmanaban, former Director of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, who was presented the Genome Valley Award for 2007, said India missed the industrial revolution but it should not miss the biotech revolution.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Bio-tech & Genetics | Andhra Pradesh

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