Indian investor eyes 9.5 billion ruble pharma plant in Tatarstan

Taliya Minullina, head of the organizing committee of the second Russian-Indian TIME forum and head of Tatarstan's Investment Development Agency, called India the “pharmacy of the world.” She said India ranks first globally in generic drug production, supplies 20% of world generics and about 50% of all vaccines. Minullina named pharmaceuticals as one of the promising areas of cooperation between Tatarstan and India.

At the forum's session on pharmaceuticals and healthcare, it became known that India is considering Tatarstan as a site for a large pharmaceutical investment project. Divesh Kumar, honorary representative of India's Council for Promotion of Export of Pharmaceutical Products, said a ready project worth 9.5 billion rubles is in place. It envisages a plant producing oncology drugs, hormonal medicines, HIV treatments and active pharmaceutical ingredients. According to the presentation, the project could be implemented between 2027 and 2030. Kumar said Alabuga, Innopolis or another location could be chosen, and that no final decision has been made.

Kumar cited Tatarstan's geographic position and its role as a “window” into Russia's 150-million population, adding that any CIS country is reachable from the region. Ayrat Nazmeev, deputy general director of Tatkhimfarmpreparaty, said the company's portfolio includes about 130 drug names and that much of its raw material and pharmaceutical substances come from abroad. He said some of these supplies previously came from Europe, while the company now actively works with Indian partners.