BHUBANESWAR : A Common Facility Center (CFC) for Pharmaceutical Cluster (Cuttack-Bhubaneswar) was inaugurated by Union minister of state for MSME Pratap Chandra Sarangi in Mancheswar Industrial area here on Sunday. It will work as a testing and training facility for pharmaceutical units in the state.
The CFC, a two-storied building, set up under the Centre’s micro and small enterprises-cluster development programme (MSE-CDP) in association with the state MSME department and the Utkal Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association (UPMA) with an estimated cost of Rs 2.93 crore.
This facility has laboratories to test pharmaceutical products and its raw materials, finish products and packing materials. It can also provide training to pharmaceutical students and employees of pharmaceutical units in the state. Now the students will not go outside Odisha to get training on testing pharmaceutical products, said a UPMA member.
“This CFC is the best initiative towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign of the Centre. Now the pharmaceutical companies will not send their product to other states for quality testing. This center will ensure the quality of the pharmaceutical products. It will also generate employment,” said Sarangi.
He said the Centre is trying to boost the production of pharmaceutical industries of the country and make the country selfreliant. “Around 10 clusters will come up in the state after getting approval. It will help Odisha in future,” he added.
While attending the inaugural ceremony, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi urged the Union minister to establish a cluster for Pahal Rasagola in the twin city. She also requested him for setting up of an automobile cluster in Bhubaneswar and upgradation of Chandaka industrial estate.
Ashok Patnaik, chief coordinator of the CFC, said there are nearly 46 pharma units manufacturing tablets, syrups, capsules, powder, disinfectant, surgical goods and other devices. “We had been trying to set up this CFC since 2011-12, but it was not taking up due to land and other issues. Finally, we are happy that it saw the light of the day,” he added.
He said that a small pharmaceutical unit cannot set up its own advanced testing facility by spending a huge amount of money. “Hence, all the units were sending their products to other states for advance testing. It was a cumbersome process to send the samples and wait for a report. The delay in getting the report was adversely affecting product delivery. But now it is solved,” said Patnaik.
Besides, this pharmaceutical cluster, Odisha has a rice bran cluster in Bargarh and cashew cluster in Ganjam district.
