Rs 600 Crore Pharma Plant Coming Up in Kathua
Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh laid the foundation stone of a major pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. The project will come up at Village Gadadhar and involves an investment of around Rs 600 to 700 crore.
The facility will be established by Orchid Bio Pharma with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council under the Department of Biotechnology. Officials said the project reflects growing industrial activity and infrastructure expansion in the region.
Investment Expected to Create Jobs
Dr Jitendra Singh said the investment forms part of the Government of India’s Production Linked Incentive scheme aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing. Moreover, he noted that the project demonstrates rising confidence in Jammu and Kashmir’s industrial potential.
The minister said the facility is expected to generate around 400 direct jobs. In addition, it will create nearly the same number of indirect employment opportunities in sectors such as logistics, supply chains and services.
According to him, the expansion of industrial infrastructure in Kathua could position the district as an emerging hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Focus on Critical Antibiotic Intermediate
The manufacturing unit will produce Amino Cephalosporanic Acid, a crucial intermediate used in the production of cephalosporin antibiotics. These antibiotics remain an essential component of modern healthcare systems.
Dr Jitendra Singh noted that India currently depends heavily on imports of this intermediate from China. Consequently, domestic production will strengthen supply security and help stabilise prices.
He added that reducing dependence on a single country for critical pharmaceutical inputs remains important for national health security. The experience of global disruptions during the pandemic highlighted vulnerabilities in supply chains for essential medicines.
Strengthening India’s Pharma Supply Chain
The minister said the project aligns with the government’s vision of building self reliance in healthcare technologies and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Furthermore, he referred to the recently announced Biopharma Shakti initiative in the Union Budget, which allocates Rs 10,000 crore to strengthen the biotechnology and biopharmaceutical ecosystem.
Dr Jitendra Singh also highlighted India’s expanding role in global biotechnology and pharmaceutical production. The country currently ranks third in biomanufacturing in the Asia Pacific region and 30th worldwide.
He said the establishment of advanced pharmaceutical facilities could place Kathua on India’s pharmaceutical export map. At the same time, such projects integrate regions like Jammu and Kashmir into the national growth story through knowledge driven industries.
Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology Dr Rajesh Gokhale said the bioeconomy plays a key role in strengthening scientific and economic capabilities. He added that biomanufacturing initiatives such as the Kathua project demonstrate India’s growing capacity to compete globally in biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.
Officials including BIRAC Managing Director Dr Jitendra Kumar, Dhanuka Group Chairman Ram Gopal Agarwal, Orchid Bio Pharma Managing Director Manish Dhanuka and Kathua Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma attended the foundation ceremony.
The Kathua facility will be developed by Orchid Bio Pharma, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of cephalosporin antibiotics. The company operates in more than 60 countries and serves over 200 global customers through international partnerships.
With inputs from Reuters