Visakha region turning into another bulk drug hub after Hyderabad

Visakhapatnam is fast emerging as another leading hub for pharmaceuticals and life sciences in India after Hyderabad with the Centre funding development of infrastructure at Bulk Drug Park at Nakkapalli and Laurus Labs coming forward to invest over Rs.5,000 crore at Rambilli in Anakapalle district.

Both the places are close to Visakhapatnam, a place already gaining reputation as a hub for pharma companies because of the location of a world-class Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) and the Adani Gangavaram Port Limited in the private sector. Now Mulapeta poort is under development by the AP Maritime Board in Srikakulam district.

Besides Hetero SEZ at Nakkapalli, and AP Special Economic Zone, Athutapuram,there are several pharmaceutical units now under operation at Ranasthalam and Pydibhimavaram in Srikakulam district, around 90 to 100 km from here.

Jawaharlal Nehru Pharma City (JNPC), spread over 2400 acres at Parawada is a specialised cluster with all facilities for several big pharma companies including Eisai and Mylan. Divi's Lab, Reddy's lab, Pfizer, Nagarjuna and several leading companies have their units at multiple locations spread over North Andhra. JNPC itself has a turnover of at least Rs.25,000 crore with direct and indirect employment of around 32,000 people.

"Going by all these developments, North Andhra region is expected to become a leading bulk drug hub in India after Hyderabad," R. Uday Bhaskar, foremre Director General of Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil), told Bizz Buzz..

The Laurus Labs, a prominent player in active pharmaceutical ingredients and intermediates, will invest in a bulk drug unit in the phase-2 SEZ lands and is part of the company's broader strategy for expansion.The unit will invest in production of speciality chemicals including fermentation based products and green chemistry solutions.

The State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) has approved the proposal of Laurus Labs to invest Rs.5,630 crore in Rambilli with a promise to create employment for 6,500, which is considered as a shot in the arm to make North Andhra a hub for pharma mainly bulk drugs. It has already invested Rs.6,500 since 2007 in various units in and around Visakhapatnam providing employment to nearly 10,000.

Earlier, Laurus Labs CEO Chava Satyanarayana and Executive Vice President Narasimha Rao met Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu conveyed their proposal to invest at Rambilli.

Land has been allotted for a bulk drug park at Nakkapalli for which the Centre has promised Rs.1,000 crore as special assistance for creating the required infrastructure. The total cost of the project for development of the park is estimated at Rs.1850 crore. Andhra Pradesh is the third State after Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh selected by the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers for developing a bulk drug park. The park is expected to be ready by March 31, 2026.It will have a common effluent plant, marine outfall system and facility for steam generation,distribution, common solvent recovery system. As per the master plan, the package-1 will cost Rs.875.36 crore.