Jitendra Singh Lays Foundation Of ₹600–700 Crore Multinational Pharma Facility In J&K’s Kathua
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and MoS PMO Jitendra Singh on Saturday laid the foundation stone of a major multinational pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at Gadadhar village in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. The project, with an investment of about ₹600-700 crore, is being set up by Orchid Pharma with facilitation from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
Addressing the gathering, Singh said the investment under the Production Linked Incentive Scheme reflects growing confidence in the industrial and innovation potential of Jammu and Kashmir. The facility is expected to generate nearly 400 direct jobs and create a similar number of indirect employment opportunities for suppliers, logistics providers and other allied sectors. He said that with its expanding industrial infrastructure, Kathua has the potential to emerge as a significant pharmaceutical manufacturing hub and place Jammu and Kashmir on India’s pharmaceutical export map.
Singh described the project as a major breakthrough for the region’s pharmaceutical sector. The facility will manufacture the critical antibiotic intermediate Amino Cephalosporanic Acid (ACA), an essential component used in the production of cephalosporin antibiotics. At present, India depends largely on imports of this intermediate from China, which creates vulnerabilities in supply security, pricing stability and healthcare access. The Kathua facility, he said, will strengthen India’s strategic pharmaceutical capabilities and reduce dependence on imports of key intermediates.
“Antibiotics are foundational to modern healthcare, and the pandemic showed how dependence on a single geography for essential inputs can quickly become a national vulnerability,” Singh said. He added that the initiative reflects the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India self-reliant in critical healthcare technologies and pharmaceutical supply chains. Singh also referred to the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti initiative announced in the Union Budget to strengthen India’s biotechnology and biopharmaceutical ecosystem.
The Minister said India is rapidly emerging as a major player in the global biotechnology and pharmaceutical sector, currently ranking third in biomanufacturing in the Asia-Pacific region and 30th globally. Establishing such advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing units, he said, has the potential to place Kathua prominently on India’s pharmaceutical export map.
Singh said the project reflects India’s intent to move up the pharmaceutical value chain and reinforce the country’s role as a reliable global supplier of essential medicines, particularly for countries that depend on India during health emergencies. He added that setting up advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in Jammu and Kashmir represents a new development approach focused on capability building, skill development and long-term value creation.
Projects like this, he said, will not only expand India’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity but also strengthen the country’s health security by ensuring the availability and affordability of essential medicines even during global disruptions.
Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Rajesh Gokhale said the bioeconomy is crucial for strengthening the country’s scientific and economic capabilities. He noted that science-led biomanufacturing initiatives such as the Kathua project demonstrate how India is building the capacity to become a strong global competitor in biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.
Managing Director of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council Jitendra Kumar, Chairman of Dhanuka Group Ram Gopal Agarwal, Managing Director of Orchid Biopharma Manish Dhanuka, and Deputy Commissioner of Kathua Rajesh Sharma were also present on the occasion.
The facility is being developed by Orchid Bio-Pharma, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of cephalosporin antibiotics. The company operates in more than 60 countries and serves over 200 global customers through international partnerships.
