The Hindu : National : Orissa releases draft biotech policy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 12, 2005

National

National

Orissa releases draft biotech policy

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR, FEB. 11. The Orissa Government today released the Draft Biotechnology Policy, 2005, to speed up overall development in biotechnology in the State.

The draft policy, released by the Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, at the inaugural session of a three-day national workshop here, aims to take up a detailed inventory of bio-resources in the State with the help of universities, research institutions, non-governmental organisations and private agencies.

The other objectives of the proposed policy are to promote conservation of bio-diversity, and develop high quality infrastructure with the required support services for manufacturing units by setting up specialised biotech parks in various parts of the State.

The policy promises special incentives to the biotech industry and related sectors and creates an enabling environment for the growth of the biotech industry, especially the simplification of procedures for getting clearances for the commercialisation of new biotech products. The thrust areas that have been identified by the State Government include medical research and application; food and nutrition security; disaster management with biotechnology intervention; and environmental biotechnology and biodiversity conservation. The national workshop on "Biotechnology Potentials for Development in Orissa," has been organised by the State Government with the cooperation of the Central Government's Department of Biotechnology and other agencies. The final policy on biotechnology will be formulated on the basis of the inputs of this conference and an investors' meet on biotechnology that will be organised here shortly.

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