INDORE: A dedicated cluster for homegrown drug manufacturers may attract an investment of over Rs 400 crore from around 40 industries, claimed Madhya Pradesh Small Scale Drug Manufacturers’ Association.
The micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) department has proposed five clusters, namely furniture, toys, confectionery, pharmaceuticals and food processing in the Indore region. The pharmaceutical cluster is expected to come in close proximity to the Indore-Ujjain road.
The drug manufacturers’ association on Saturday invited suggestions from pharma companies interested in taking up land in the proposed cluster. Association president Himanshu Shah said, “We have already collated data and requirements of our members who are interested in taking up space in the cluster. There are 40 small drug-makers willing to invest in the cluster.”
The association has demanded 100 acres of land from the state government to set up the cluster.
Shah said, “We have demanded 100 acres from the government for the cluster. Around 20% of the area will go into development and the rest will be used by the industries. We are also focusing on developing an area that has allied industries.”
Drug manufacturers have expanded capacity utilisations to enhance production of Covid-19 pandemic related drugs and cold medicines amid apprehension that the third wave may strike anytime Indore has around 100 small and medium drug manufacturing units engaged in production of ointments, tablets, syrups and syringes among other items. Around 300 drug manufacturing units, including multinationals, operate in MP.
