On July 21, 2022, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister for Chemicals & Fertilizers and Health & Family Welfare formally launched the scheme of Strengthening of Pharmaceuticals Industries at Dr Ambedkhar International Convention Centre, Janpath, New Delhi, in the presence of Minister of State for Chemicals & Fertilizers and New & Renewable energy Shri Bhagwanth Khuba amidst the strong presence of pharma MSME industry players and representatives of major Pharma Associations. The initiatives under the scheme are aimed at further enhancing India’s capabilities in the pharmaceuticals sector with an objective to make it much more competitive in terms of both quality and cost and also aimed at making Indian pharma MSMEs, a part of Global supply chain by incentivizing them to acquire Schedule M and WHO GMP certifications. The Scheme provides for credit linked capital and interest subsidy for Technology Upgradation of MSME units in pharmaceutical sector, as well as support of up to Rs 20 crore each for common facilities including Research centre, testing labs and ETPs in Pharma Clusters. SIDBI will be the Project management Consultant for implementing the scheme.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister congratulated the Department and the pharma industry for arriving at the scheme, with extensive consultations. He stressed the importance of consultations and continuous dialogue in effective planning, successful implementation and achievement of desired outcomes of a scheme and urged the Industries to give the feedback from time to time to implement the scheme effectively.
While lauding the MSMEs as the growth engines of the economy, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya stressed the importance for moving to ‘value from volume’. He also highlighted the various initiatives of the Government towards MSME sector and informed that 40% of selected participants under the PLI scheme for Pharmaceuticals belongs to MSME category. He shared the vision for the country as a pharmacy of the world and stressed the role MSMEs in achieving this vision. To change with the evolving times, the Minister emphasized the importance of Demand based research as the need of the hour and encouraged greater linkage of industry with academia. Hon’ble Minister Dr Mandviya also shared his satisfaction over the successful implementation of departmental PLI schemes for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Device and lauded the efforts of the Industries on this front.
The Minister recommended to the Industry representatives present to create enough awareness about the scheme to all the pharma MSME units across the country to avail of the opportunity to upgrade their facilities to WHO-GMP and Schedule-M Standards. The support to upgrade the pharma cluster facilities for Research, Lab, effluent treatment plants, etc has to be used by the Industry clusters, he mentioned in his address.
The MoS for Chemicals & Fertilizers and New & Renewable Energy, while addressing the industries, highlighted that changing times call for changes in practices and MSME sector should take up the expansion on quality and technology required to meet global demands. While APICF scheme will help in strengthening of clusters and ensure better compliance of various regulatory requirements, PTUAS scheme will help the MSMEs in technology upgradation and meeting global standards, he underlined in his address.
Mrs. S Aparna, Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals elaborated the importance of MSMEs in the pharma industry and acknowledged the valuable inputs received during consultations with all stakeholders in formulating the scheme guidelines. Secretary also emphasized on the role of bankers and urged industry and bankers to spread the awareness on the benefits of the scheme. Shri BB Swain, Secretary, MSME, while highlighting the benefits extended to the MSME sector through his department, invited pharma industry to avail of the benefits available under these schemes.
The launch event witnessed enthusiastic participation of senior officials from Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of MSME, SIDBI, NSIC, Banks besides representatives of Industry, Office bearers of pharma associations, Academicians and Start Ups.
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MV/SK