- Kathua set for major pharma boost as Jitendra Singh launches multinational manufacturing project
Kathua, 14-03-2026: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Friday laid the foundation stone of a major multinational pharmaceutical manufacturing facility at village Gadadhar in Kathua district, describing the project as a landmark step that could place Jammu and Kashmir firmly on India’s pharmaceutical export map. The unit, being developed by Orchid Pharma with facilitation from the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council under the Department of Biotechnology, involves an investment of around Rs 600 to 700 crore and is expected to significantly strengthen the region’s industrial and employment profile.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister said the project reflects growing confidence in Jammu and Kashmir’s industrial and innovation potential. He noted that the investment is being made under the Government of India’s Production Linked Incentive Scheme and is expected to create nearly 400 direct jobs, besides generating a similar number of indirect employment opportunities in logistics, supply chains and allied services. He said Kathua, with its expanding industrial infrastructure, now has the potential to emerge as an important pharmaceutical manufacturing centre in the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh described the facility as a major breakthrough for the region’s pharmaceutical sector, pointing out that it will manufacture Amino Cephalosporanic Acid, or ACA, a critical antibiotic intermediate used in the production of cephalosporin antibiotics. At present, India depends heavily on imports of this key intermediate from China, a dependence that has created concerns related to supply security, price stability and healthcare resilience. The Kathua plant, he said, would help reduce that dependence and strengthen India’s strategic capability in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The Union Minister said the project aligns with the larger national goal of building self-reliance in critical healthcare technologies and pharmaceutical supply chains. Referring to the Union Government’s broader biotechnology vision, he said such investments are important not only for reducing imports but also for developing long-term national capability in essential sectors. He added that antibiotics remain foundational to modern healthcare, and recent global disruptions, including the pandemic, have shown how risky it can be to depend excessively on a single geography for vital raw materials and intermediates.
Highlighting the wider economic significance of the project, Dr Jitendra Singh said advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing in Jammu and Kashmir signals a new development approach centred on skill development, capability building and knowledge-driven industry. He said the establishment of such a facility is not simply an industrial event, but part of integrating Jammu and Kashmir more deeply into India’s national growth story through high-value sectors. He also noted that India is now the third-largest biomanufacturing player in the Asia-Pacific region and ranks 30th globally, and said projects like the Kathua plant can strengthen the country’s position as a reliable supplier of essential medicines to the world.
The Minister further said the facility would contribute to health security by helping ensure the availability and affordability of essential medicines even during times of global disruption. Senior officials present at the event, including Department of Biotechnology Secretary Dr Rajesh Gokhale, also underlined the importance of science-led biomanufacturing in building India’s economic and technological strength. Orchid Biopharma, which is developing the facility, is among the world’s major manufacturers of cephalosporin antibiotics and operates in more than 60 countries through global partnerships, adding international significance to the Kathua venture.