HimVani
Dharampur: Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial area would be connected with an expressway. This was stated by Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal while addressing the inaugural ceremony at a pharmaceutical convention organised by Federation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneur Manufacturers Association and Confederation of Indian Pharmaceutical at Dharampur today.
The Chief Minister said that solving problems of industrialists had always been on priority of the state government. He said that he had visited industrial areas several times and listened to their grievances. He said that every concerned authority had been directed to give top priority to their problems. He appealed to the entrepreneurs to actively involve themselves in local area development and social welfare activities. Dhumal also accepted a draft of Rs 5 lakh from Himachal Drug Manufacture Association as contribution towards the Chief Minister Relief Fund.
Health minister Rajiv Bindal said that special industrial package announced by former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee had been instrumental in giving boost to industrialisation in the state, especially pharmaceutical manufacturing. He said that the state was approaching all the channels at its command to get the central excise concessions restored beyond March, 2010. He said that the State Government was committed to create a congenial atmosphere for safe industrial investment. He urged drug manufacturers to control life-saving drug prices for the benefit of consumers.
Dr SM Jharwal, chairman, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority, said that there were 10,500 drug manufacturing companies in India. He said that annual turnover of pharma industry in the country was about Rs one lakh crore. He said that best balance was being maintained between consumers and pharma manufacturing companies. Dr Surender Singh, Drug Controller General of India, underlined the need for affordable drug to the common man. He said that HP was the first state which had opened drug licensing officers in industrial areas. He said that pharmaceutical terminals were being opened at different locations in India.
Sanjay Guleria, president, Himachal Drug Manufacturers Association, welcomed the Chief Minister and counted facilities being made available to the pharmaceutical companies. He said that the Association was actively involved in social welfare activities in the area.
