Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government aims to begin production of Bharat Biotech vaccine — Covaxin– in the state capital Bhubaneswar by June 2022. The construction of the vaccine production unit has already started at Andharua in Bhubaneswar and a target has been set to commence the production of Covaxin by June 2022.
The project was announced after a state-level Bio-Tech implementation committee meeting was held virtually under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra.
During the meeting, Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra directed officials to expedite the construction for commencing the production by June 2022.
The unit will produce around 10 types of advanced vaccines, including the vaccine against Covid-19 and Malaria.
“Smooth land allotment process by the IDCO [Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation] and ‘ease of doing business’ reforms have helped in beginning the process,” Suresh Mahapatra said, adding that statutory clearances and permissions have also been granted for setting up the unit.
Mahapatra also directed the department to set up a professional Directorate of Bio-Technology 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, told India Today TV, “The government has made provisions for extending different incentives to biotech incubation and startups in 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 the incubating units in Biotechnology sector,” said Mishra.
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 hub incubation centre has come up near Infocity, Bhubaneswar, where two floors with around 28,000 sqft space can be made available for incubation facilities.
“The decision is likely to benefit around 775 startups in Odisha. Out of these 775, around 65 have acquired the patent, trademark and copy write. Around 75 startups are being incubated in the biotech and health sector,” Singh said.
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 departments concerned and industry representatives participated in the discussion.
