Odisha Government Commences Vaccine Manufacturing Unit In Bhubaneswar

Odisha Government Commences Vaccine Manufacturing Unit In Bhubaneswar

Taking a major step towards managing and controlling the pandemic, the Odisha government has commenced the construction of a vaccine production unit by Bharat Biotech at Andharua in Bhubaneswar. It is expected to commence the production of Covaxin by June 2022.

The project was announced after a state-level Biotech implementation committee meeting which was held virtually under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra. He directed officials to expedite the construction to ensure quick  commencement of the vaccine production.

The unit is planned to produce around 10 types of advanced vaccines, including those against COVID 19 and malaria.

Mahapatra informed that smooth land allotment process by IDCO and ease of doing business reforms have helped in beginning the project, besides being granted statutory clearances and permissions for setting up the unit.

Mahapatra directed the department to set up a professional Directorate of Biotechnology for having a focused approach towards the incubation and setting up of new industries in the sector.

Secretary, Science and Technology, Manoj Mishra, who also attended the meeting, informed that the government has made provisions for extending different incentives to biotech incubation and startups in the form of land allotment, exemption of stamp duty, land conversion, training subsidy, capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy etc. under the Odisha Biotechnology Policy of 2018.

Around Rs 15 crore was allocated under the ‘Fund of Funds’ of MSME department for providing equity support to incubating units in the Biotechnology sector. The extension of subsidies needs to be managed professionally for optimizing the outcomes.

Chairman and Managing Director, IDCO, Sanjay Singh said a state-of-the-art incubation centre has come up near Infocity, Bhubaneswar, where two floors with around 28,000 sq ft space can be made available for incubation facilities.

Among others, Development Commissioner Pradeep Jena; Additional Chief Secretary, Forest and Environment, Dr Mona Sharma; Principal Secretary, Industry, Hemant Kumar Sharma; Principal Secretary Finance, Ashok K Meena; Principal Secretary, Energy, Nikunjabihari Dhal and Principal Secretary MSME; Satyabrata Sahu, along with senior officers of concerned departments and industry representatives participated in the discussion