Visakha Pharmacity CEO Confident Of Big Growth Forward For Pharma Industry

Visakhapatnam: Dr P P Lal Krishna, MD & CEO of Visakha Pharmacity Limited (formerly known as Ramky Pharma City (India) Limited) - Visakhapatnam has played a key role in bringing various companies to Pharmacity with an investment of Rs 25,000 crore and providing employment to the tune of 35,000 people at Parawada in undivided Visakhapatnam district.

More than 35 per cent units in this park are approved by USFDA to supply the products to the USA, he told Bizz Buzz exuding confidence over the region emerging as the next largest destination for pharma investment in India after Hyderabad.

He said this is only one industrial park offering integrated environmental management services in one place and will become a role model for the new 3 bulk drug parks established in different States (Himachal, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh) with the support of Government of India grant of Rs1000 crore each. He is also instrumental in developing Visakha Energy Ltd (to supply steam and power to the consumers of the estate), RECEPS (an R&D company to give the services to the member units of Pharmacity

Dr Lal Krishna has done a doctorate in chemistry from University of Madras having 40 years of experience in various process industries like bulk drugs, pharmaceuticals, distilleries, pulp & environmental consultancy etc. He is a certified assessor for business excellency & environmental excellency.

To his credit he developed various new processes for the bulk pharma industry such as zero discharge of liquid trade effluents first time in India and membrane bio reactor, pharmaceutical waste to useful manure, biogas generation from pulp & paper industry and first-time certification of ISO-14001 for pharma industry in India.

He has presented several technical papers in International & national seminars/conferences and is associated with the consultancy services in environmental management system (EMS) as an expert in trouble shooting and developmental activities.

Last 15 years serving as MD & CEO of Vishakha Pharmacity Limits, in which he is instrumental in bringing many international companies like Pfizer, Eisai Pharma, Ajinomoto Bio Pharma, Pharmazell and Indian giants like Biocon, Aurobindo Pharma, Natco Pharma, Laurus Labs, Torrent, Lupin, lot of Indian pharma companies and first generation entrepreneurs totalling more than 100 companies into the Pharmacity.

On future scenario, he said making the Pharmacity completely digital model for seamless services like supply of treated water acceptance of waste water through an online portal using command control centres and also establishing auto effluent samplers to collect the effluent samples with a periodicity to the average quality of effluent into the Common Effluent Treatment Plant will be the focus areas.

He said they are also concentrating on the water recovery and reuse from the treated effluent as part of sustainability Pharmaceutical industry in India: The Indian pharmaceutical industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, with

projections indicating continued expansion. The domestic pharmaceutical market was valued at approximately $61.36

billion. He said 2025 estimates suggest the market will reach around US$66.66 billion, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.92 per cent from 2025 to 2030. Projections indicate the market could expand to between US$120 billion and US$130 billion. By 2047 the long-term forecasts estimate the market may grow to between US$400 billion and US$450 billion.

The life expectancy in India from the year 1950 is 43 years and it has increased to 72 years in the year 2024, the highest life expectancy is other developed countries is 88 years, so there is a need of more medicines for the older people

Inline with Government of India target of $ 130 billion by the year 2030, he said they are planning to establish Pharma Innovation and Incubation Centre to facilitate to Indian scientist for making cost effective medicine with global quality standards using continuous reactions, AI, IoT and robotics.