Published & Updated as on - 2010-02-18

HYDERABAD: Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Saturday gave a firm assurance to prospective investors that the State was an extremely safe destination and said they need not have any apprehensions in the wake of the recent happenings.

Delivering the valedictory address at the BioAsia 2010 here, he said: “Please do come over to Andhra Pradesh.

It is the State of future. It has stable, safe and secure environment for everyone to do business, research in their endeavour to make life better for everyone.”

Crediting biotechnology with the potential to find solution to twin challenges of hunger and disease, he said that the State has emerged a hub of biotechnology with talented pool of manpower and research and development facilities in Genome Valley. He later unveiled the dates for BioAsia 2011 from February 21 to 24 next year.

Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ashok Kumar, said that biotechnology would not only impact life sciences but all fields. Noting that despite medical advancements, large percentage of population was deprived of access to modern medicine, he said providing medicines at reasonable and affordable price was a big mandate for bio-pharma sector.

Appreciating Indian pharma industry for growing at 16 per cent while the growth rate of global industry was 4.8 per cent, he said Indian industry crossed revenue of Rs. one lakh crore in September 2009. But compared to the revenue of some MNCs, it was nothing and India should do better. Andhra Pradesh should take the lead, he added.

Huge success

Syed E. Hasnain, Chairman, BioAsia advisory board and Vice-Chancellor, University of Hyderabad, termed the conference which showcased State as Biotechnology capital of India a huge success with over 4,350 delegates attending the conference and close to 1,000 B to B meetings taking place. Over 600 companies from 21 countries took part. The valedictory also saw ‘YSR Innovation Award’ given away to Siddarth Tiwari of Lucknow and BioAsia Genius award to Sai Tejaswi of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Chennai.

Source: The Hindu dated 07/02/2010