Guj Govt decides to make biotechnology growth faster: Patel

Gandhinagar, Apr 18 (UNI) Gujarat Education Minister Anandiben Patel today said in order to make the process of development in biotechnology sector faster, the government has decided to put different areas of the state into different zones to create scope for the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in the state.

Dedicating the state government's five-year plan (2007-2012) to biotechnology policy, Ms Patel said ''For this, the government has declared different strategies for agriculture, animal husbandary, health, marine and environment sectors''.

''Also, investment on any mega project of more than Rs 100 crore would be encouraged. The government has decided to free Biotechnology Parks that fall under SEZ in the state. That apart, biotech industries would be granted 50 per cent of stamp duty exemption,'' she said.

''Even before the policy was declared, Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit 2007 drew investment worth Rs 1,500 crore in biotechnology sector,'' Ms Patel said.

''In order to encourage new entrepreneurs in biotechnology sector, Gujarat Venture Finance Limited Company has created Gujarat Biotechnology Venture Fund. Also, it has created self certification for labourers in biotechnology sector,'' she said.

Ms Patel said under the biotechnology policy, entrepreneurs would avail of subsidy on interest, assistance for technology and quality, patent and product registration, ISO certification, exhibition and participation in trade fairs under current Industrial Policy of 2003.

UNI