Orissas bio-tech sector to see Rs 1,300 cr investment'

About 40 small companies want to invest in the bio-tech sector in Orissa across projects relating to bio-fertiliser, vermi compost, bio-manure, tissue culture, anti-bodies kit, herbs syrups, inorganic fertiliser, agro-chemical and essential oil.

These companies include Sarat Bio-tech Ltd, United bio-pharma, Dowborn Agro Multrionts, Reddy Bio-fertiliser, Konark Bio-fertilisers, Multi-flex Bio-tech Private limited, SG Agro-chemical, Raygada Institute of Aromatic Medicinal Plant and BM Essential Oil.

While 12 companies have submitted their proposals to the District Industries Centre (DIC) at Bhubaneswar, 27 companies have come through Raygada DIC. One company, People’s Forum, has submitted its application to Nayagarh DIC, official sources said.

Besides, the Orissa government is examining two investment proposals worth Rs 1,293 crore in bio-technology. They include a Rs 1,200 crore project of Next Generation Technology (a US-based company) and Hyderabad-based Bharat Bio-tech International Ltd.

The American bio-technology company, ‘Next Generation Technology’, has proposed setting up of a bio-tech research centre and IT services centre in Orissa.

The company has sought 100 acres of land near the state government’s farm at Deras, on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. It is expected to generate employment opportunities for about 25,000 people.

This is in addition to 17 companies wanting to participate in the Bio-tech Pharma and IT park proposed at Andharua near Bhubaneswar.

The list includes Kolkata-based Kit Ply industries, MSV Laboratories and Pharmaceuticals Ltd, New Delhi-based Sea Weeds Bio-tech Private Limited and Chennai-based EID Parry (India) Ltd.

To cater to the large number of investment proposals coming in the bio-tech sector, the Orissa government recently constituted a committee of experts (CoE) to scrutinise these proposals.

The CoE is headed by the secretary, science and technology department and has 10 other members including the head of the bio-technology department, IIT Kharagpur and director, bio-technology department and the Orissa government, sources added.

The CoE will scrutinise those proposals which are routed through the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd (Ipicol) and the state-owned Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco).