Govt shakes off inertia to establish ingredients park for pharma sector
Thursday, 26 July 2007
Doulot Akter Mala
The government is expediting its move to establish an Active Ingredients Park (API) by 2008 aiming to cash in on the waiver of patent laws offered by World Trade Organisation upto 2016.
The government held a meeting Wednesday with a World Bank (WB) mission regarding grants for establishment of the park.
High officials of Board of Investment, Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh Association of Pharmacuticals Industries (BAPI) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) attended the meeting.
The government will set up the API at an estimated cost of over Tk 4.52 billion (452 crore) on 300 acres of land in Pausia-Lakkhipur area under Munshiganj district.
The government has sought financial assistance from development partners to set up the park.
The WB mission in the wrap-up meeting with the government underscored the need for conducting a study on social and environmental aspects before allocating the grant to the government for the park.
The UK-based Department For International Development (DFID), in principle, agreed to conduct the study by October, a BoI source said.
The WB mission will come back to Bangladesh in October next with the board decision of providing the fund to the government, he added.
The government also stressed the need for establishment of special economic zones (SEZs) as well as Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) for the textile industry.
While talking to the FE, BAPI president SM Shafiuzzaman said: "We had met with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed recently to request him to give directives to speed up establishment of the park.
In line with the recent directives of the CA, the government departments concerned have geared up their efforts, he added.
The government is expediting its move to establish an Active Ingredients Park (API) by 2008 aiming to cash in on the waiver of patent laws offered by World Trade Organisation upto 2016.
The government held a meeting Wednesday with a World Bank (WB) mission regarding grants for establishment of the park.
High officials of Board of Investment, Ministry of Industries, Bangladesh Association of Pharmacuticals Industries (BAPI) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) attended the meeting.
The government will set up the API at an estimated cost of over Tk 4.52 billion (452 crore) on 300 acres of land in Pausia-Lakkhipur area under Munshiganj district.
The government has sought financial assistance from development partners to set up the park.
The WB mission in the wrap-up meeting with the government underscored the need for conducting a study on social and environmental aspects before allocating the grant to the government for the park.
The UK-based Department For International Development (DFID), in principle, agreed to conduct the study by October, a BoI source said.
The WB mission will come back to Bangladesh in October next with the board decision of providing the fund to the government, he added.
The government also stressed the need for establishment of special economic zones (SEZs) as well as Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs) for the textile industry.
While talking to the FE, BAPI president SM Shafiuzzaman said: "We had met with Chief Adviser Fakhruddin Ahmed recently to request him to give directives to speed up establishment of the park.
In line with the recent directives of the CA, the government departments concerned have geared up their efforts, he added.