Govt to Launch Initiatives to Strengthen Pharmaceutical Sector, Focusing on MSMEs & Clusters

With the goal of enhancing India's existing manufacturing prowess in the Pharmaceuticals Industry, the Government of India's Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, is planning to launch a series of initiatives under the banner of Schemes for 'Strengthening Pharmaceuticals Industry'.

Keeping in mind the strategic role of MSMEs, which provide important forward and backward links to the industry, and the fact that MSMEs tend to grow in clusters, these schemes will address technology upgradation issues at both the unit and cluster levels.

To strengthen the supply chain of the pharmaceutical industry, of which MSMEs are an integral part, the Government of India will incentivize intending MSME units seeking Schedule M certification or WHO GMP certification through the sub-scheme Pharmaceuticals Industry Technology Upgradation Assistance Scheme (PTUAS).

The MSME unit shall have the option of receiving either a capital subsidy or an interest subsidy.

At the cluster level, the sub-scheme 'Assistance to Pharmaceuticals Industry for Common Facilities' (APICF) aims to support the establishment of common facilities such as testing labs, common effluent treatment plants, and other such facilities by providing government assistance in the form of capital grants of up to 70%, subject to a maximum of Rs. 20 crores.

To close the knowledge gap, the third sub-scheme proposes a series of awareness programmes, sectoral studies, and similar programmes to generate soft inputs for policy advocacy.

Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare, will formally launch these initiatives on July 21, 2022, at the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar International Convention Centre.

Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, will also be present. Senior officials from the Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the Ministry of MSME, SIDBI, NSIC, and banks, as well as representatives from industry, entrepreneurs, and start-ups, were present.