Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh today said that Jammu and Kashmir is rapidly emerging as a major biotechnology and innovation destination, with the operationalisation of the Industrial Biotech Park at Ghatti, Kathua set to provide a major boost to StartUps , entrepreneurship and research in the region.
Addressing a function at Kathua, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the StartUp revolution has now begun in Jammu and Kashmir, with the startups nurtured under the Aroma Mission becoming successful entrepreneurial models and household names across the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the government’s focus is on creating an enabling ecosystem where innovation leads to employment generation, economic growth and sustainable development
The Minister praised Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision to position India as a global leader in science, technology and biotechnology through flagship initiatives such as Startup India, Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat, which encourage innovation and sustainable economic growth.
The Union Minister said the Industrial Biotech Park will serve as a hub for incubation of innovative ideas and provide world-class facilities to agri-entrepreneurs, startups, progressive farmers, scientists, researchers, and students from Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh as well as neighbouring states including Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh
Highlighting the importance of the facility, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Biotech Park will promote research on medicinal and aromatic plants of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh while encouraging green-category industries and environmentally sustainable enterprises. The Minister noted that the park, established as North India’s first Industrial Biotech Park, is equipped with advanced facilities including herbal extraction, fermentation, analytical laboratories, distillation units, micro-propagation and plant tissue culture laboratories. Besides technology incubation, it also offers training and skill development programmes to build a skilled biotechnology workforce
