Kathua, Jammu & Kashmir: Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a major pharmaceutical manufacturing facility by Orchid Pharma in Gadadhar village of Kathua district, marking a significant boost for the region’s industrial and biotech sector.
The project, with an estimated investment of ₹600–700 crore, is being established with support from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) under the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.
Investment Reflects Growing Industrial Confidence in J&K
Speaking at the event, Dr Jitendra Singh said the investment reflects increasing confidence in the industrial and innovation potential of the Jammu & Kashmir region.
He noted that the project falls under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme of the Government of India and is expected to strengthen the pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem in the region.
The facility is projected to generate around 400 direct employment opportunities, while an equal number of indirect jobs are likely to be created in sectors such as supply chain, logistics, and allied services.
Kathua Emerging as a Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Hub
The Union Minister highlighted that Kathua district, with its rapidly expanding industrial infrastructure, has the potential to emerge as a major pharmaceutical production hub on India’s pharma export map.
He described the project as a significant milestone for India’s pharmaceutical sector and for the industrial development of Jammu & Kashmir.
Production of Key Antibiotic Intermediate
The upcoming unit will manufacture Amino Cephalosporanic Acid (ACA), a crucial antibiotic intermediate used in the production of cephalosporin antibiotics.
Currently, India is fully dependent on imports from China for this intermediate. This dependency raises concerns related to supply security, price stability, and healthcare accessibility.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the Kathua facility will strengthen India’s strategic capabilities in pharmaceutical manufacturing and help reduce import dependence on critical drug intermediates.
“Antibiotics are the backbone of modern healthcare, and the pandemic has shown how reliance on a single geographic region for essential inputs can become a national vulnerability,” he said.
Orchid Pharma’s Global Presence
The facility in Kathua 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.
The new unit is expected to enhance India’s domestic production capacity for key pharmaceutical ingredients while strengthening the country’s position in the global antibiotic supply chain.
