Savli biotech park project yet to rope in pvt partner

State government's ambitious and much hyped biotech park is yet to see the light of the day. The Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission has still not found a private partner to participate in the development of Biotech Park in Savli in Vadodara district, at an investment of Rs 54 crore.

The biotechnology sector in India, estimated at about $20,000 million today, is expected to grow to $4,200 million by 2010.

However, Gujarat is far behind in attracting investments in the field of biotechnology, compared with Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh where number of national and multinational players have already set their shops.

The central government has decided to support the project with an investment of Rs 15 crore. The proposed project will be set up in an area of 40 acre, in Savli industrial estate near Vadodara.

The state government has also created Gujarat Biotechnology Venture Fund (GBVF) with an initial fund of Rs 50 crore involving the government, public funding and private party participation.

Speaking about the status of the project, A K Saxena, director, Bio Tech Mission, said," The basic infrastructure is almost ready at Savli, which is probably the best suitable location for such biotech industry. We are in talk with interested parties and we may find a suitable partner soon."

According to the blue print of the proposed project, the research and development and production facility will be commissioned, backed by the 'Center for Biotechnology Education & Training.' The Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) was assigned to commission the infrastructure which is in the last stage of the development.

However, no real action has been started at Savli as the Bio Technology is waiting for private partner to participate in the proposed project.

"Operating, maintaining and marketing the biotech park is something different than creating it, and the experts should be involved in the project ," added Saxena.

The department office has retained the Ernst & Young as consultants to establish the procedure for selecting the private partner.

Commenting on the delay of the commissioning bio tech park, Saxena said, "People are talking about the delay in commissioning of the park. People seem to have great expectations from the project."

"People should understand that the project should not be looked at with reference to the time when we had started talking about the concept. There are number of other states who have also not been able to implement similar projects successfully. The project might have delayed but I am sure that we are not late yet," added Saxena.