India Moves To Cut China Dependence With Rs 600 Crore Antibiotic Intermediate Facility In Jammu's Kathua

Union Minister Jitendra Singh yesterday laid the foundation stone of a Rs 600 crore pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Village Gadadhar in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir.

The project, with investment ranging between Rs 600 to 700 crore, is being set up by Orchid Pharma with facilitation from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council under the Department of Biotechnology, and is being made under India's Production Linked Incentive Scheme.

The facility will manufacture the critical antibiotic intermediate Amino Cephalosporanic Acid (ACA), a key component in the production of cephalosporin antibiotics.

At present, India depends almost entirely on imports of this intermediate from China, which creates vulnerabilities in supply security, pricing stability and healthcare access.

Singh emphasised the project would significantly strengthen India's strategic capabilities in pharmaceutical manufacturing and reduce import dependence on critical intermediates.

The minister highlighted that the facility is expected to generate direct employment for nearly 400 people, while creating an equal number of indirect employment opportunities for suppliers, logistics providers and other allied sectors.

Orchid Bio Pharma is among the world's largest manufacturers of cephalosporin antibiotics and operates in more than 60 countries, serving over 200 global customers through international partnerships.

Singh referenced the newly announced Rs 10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti initiative in the Union Budget aimed at strengthening India's biotechnology and biopharmaceutical ecosystem.

He noted that India is rapidly emerging as a major player in the global biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector, currently ranking third in biomanufacturing in the Asia-Pacific region and 30th globally.

The Union Minister stated that establishing advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in Jammu and Kashmir signals a new development approach focused on capability building, skill development and long-term value creation.

The facility positions Kathua as a potential pharmaceutical manufacturing hub and aims to place the region on India's pharmaceutical export map whilst strengthening national health security.

Please click here to add Swarajya as your preferred and trusted news source on Google