US$1.2 million pharma zone at Hyderabad airport launched

INDIA's first airport "pharma zone", a dedicated pharmaceutical cargo storage and handling facility, has been launched at Hyderabad, reports the Business Standard.

Together Hyderabad Menzies Air Cargo Private Limited, a joint venture between GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) and Menzies Aviation have undertaken the INR5.5 crore (US$1.2 million) project.

"Around 70 per cent of export cargo at Hyderabad is pharmaceutical. This facility, with a one-time holding capacity of 115-200 tonne, would increase our product offering to the industry by 25 per cent annually," said Paul Smith, chief operating officer of Hyderabad Menzies Air Cargo.

The zone has a handling capacity of 3,600 tonnes and would double it to 7,200 tonnes by 2011. The company has proposed to take the capacity to 30,000 tonnes by 2016.

The company had projected a revenue of INR7 crore in the first year of operations, said the Business Standard.

The temperature-controlled facility at the cargo terminal ranges from 2-8 degree Celsius to 15-25 degree Celsius both in sterile and non-sterile zone. Having such a facility will help the local pharma industry meet the stringent requirements of global regulatory authorities, he said.
(Source:www.schednet.com)