State level Biotech policy need of the hour:Secretary

Kolkata, Mar 2 (UNI) Union Biotechnology Secretary Maharaj Kishan Bhan has emphasised on evolving a state-level biotechnology policy and modifying the educational curricula at University level to suit the industry needs.

Partricipating in an interactive session with members of the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI) here yesterday, Mr Bhan said in absence of a proper road map at the state level, the huge potential of the biotechnology sector was yet to be harnessed properly and in a wholesome manner.

As a result, instead of having a pan India growth of this important emerging sector, only a few states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttranchal were reaping the maximum benefit and enjoying about 70 to 75 share of the total FDI investment.

Also stressing the need for diverting the main emphasis of biotechnology courses from innovation to contractual manufacturing process, the Union Secretary said for this purpose the educational curricula of this subject should be thoroughly overhauled for making them best suitable for the needs of the related industry.

'' The present situation does not call for innovation at the small or medium industry level, but instead emphasise on creative manufacturing to be at par with the best in the world, '' Mr Bhan said adding India also had a huge market for instrumentation, at least 85 per cent of which was being imported.

Earlier, welcoming the guest BNCCI president Nayantara Pal Chowdhury described biotechnology as one one of the fastest growing industries, which had already attracted FDI to the tune of more than Rs 800 crore till last year and was growing at the rate of over 26 per cent per annum.

West Bengal also possessed the capacity of developing a state-of -the-art biotechnology Park in the state with all infrastructural facilities and scientific backgrounds remaining available at competitve cost. Now it was up to the Union government to take some more initiatives to make it happen at the earliest, she emphasised.

More than 50 senior members of the Chamber attended the session.

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