Dr Jitendra Singh Lays Foundation of Rs 600 Crore Multi-National Pharma Manufacturing Facility in Kathua, J&K.
Kathua (J&K):
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences, and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today laid the foundation stone of a major Multi-National Company pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Village Gadadhar in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir.
The project, with an estimated investment of Rs 600–700 crore, is being developed by Orchid Pharma with facilitation from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. The facility is part of the Government’s Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, aimed at promoting industrial growth and self-reliance in critical sectors.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the investment underscores growing confidence in the industrial and innovation potential of Jammu & Kashmir. He noted that the facility is expected to generate direct employment for nearly 400 individuals and create an equal number of indirect jobs for suppliers, logistics providers, and allied sectors.
Highlighting Kathua’s potential, the Minister said the town is poised to emerge as a major pharmaceutical manufacturing hub on India’s pharma export map. “With its growing industrial infrastructure, Kathua has the potential to push Jammu & Kashmir onto the global pharmaceutical landscape,” he stated.
Dr. Jitendra Singh described the facility as a significant breakthrough for the regional pharmaceutical sector. The plant will manufacture Amino Cephalosporanic Acid (ACA), a critical intermediate used in the production of cephalosporin antibiotics. India currently imports most of this intermediate from China, creating vulnerabilities in supply security, pricing, and healthcare access. The new facility, he said, will reduce import dependence and strengthen India’s strategic pharmaceutical capabilities.
“Antibiotics are foundational to modern healthcare, and the pandemic showed how reliance on a single geography for essential inputs can become a national vulnerability,” Dr. Jitendra Singh noted. He added that the initiative aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of making India self-reliant in critical healthcare technologies and pharmaceutical supply chains, reinforced by the recently announced Rs. 10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti initiative in the Union Budget.
The Minister highlighted India’s growing global position in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, ranking third in biomanufacturing in the Asia-Pacific region and 30th globally. He emphasized that establishing advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in Kathua will move India up the value chain and position the country as a reliable supplier of essential medicines during health emergencies worldwide.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the project also reflects a development approach focused on capability building, skill development, and long-term value creation in Jammu & Kashmir. “This is not merely about reducing imports; it is about building strategic capability where it matters most. Projects like this integrate regions like J&K into the national growth story through knowledge-driven industries,” he added.
The Minister also noted that expanding India’s pharmaceutical capacity strengthens health security by ensuring the availability and affordability of essential medicines even during global disruptions.
Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology, stressed the importance of the bioeconomy for India’s scientific and economic capabilities, while Dr. Jitendra Kumar, MD of BIRAC, emphasized how science-led biomanufacturing initiatives, like the Kathua facility, position India as a strong global competitor in biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.
Other dignitaries present at the ceremony included Ram Gopal Agarwal, Chairman of Dhanuka Group; Manish Dhanuka, MD of Orchid Biopharma; and Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Kathua.
The Kathua facility by Orchid Bio Pharma, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of cephalosporin antibiotics, operates in over 60 countries and serves more than 200 global customers through international partnerships, making this development a significant step in strengthening India’s pharmaceutical self-reliance and global export capacity.