Goa Hopes to Follow Gujarat into Becoming a Leading Pharma Industry Player in India

Goa's chapter of Indian industry chamber CII is hoping to emulate Gujarat's success in the pharma field as it looks to promote Goa as the leading pharmaceutical industry player in the country.

Speaking to reporters here Monday, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Goa vice chairman Kirit Maganlal said Gujarat's prowess as a leader in the pharma industry was something which Goa needed to emulate, if the state were to make rapid strides in the sector.

"We are trying to learn from Gujarat, which today is a leader as far as the pharma industry is concerned," he said.

While the pharma industry in Goa is pegged at Rs.5,000 crore, last fiscal alone, Gujarat exported pharmaceutical products to the tune of Rs.15,000 crore.

CII Goa chairman Atul Pai Kane also said that the pharmaceutical industry along with agriculture, tourism, logistics as well as e-governance were the key thrust areas on the CII's agenda as far as Goa is concerned and that a relatively non-polluting industry like pharma, could be beneficial to the small environmentally sensitive state.

"We want to develop Goa as a competent pharma, life sciences, research and development destination in the country. We look to increase pharma exports through the post of Goa," Kane said.

Source: IANS