Thiruvananthapuram: The designated expert committee to study and recommend setting up the Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing unit in this country has recommended a three-stage process to arrange facilities.
The Committee has provided its recommendations to the government after holding a discussion with eight vaccine manufacturing companies.
The Committee has recommended (accessed by TOI) to build a Fill-Finish unit in the first phase, a full manufacturing unit for new vaccines in the second phase and research and development units in relations with the Advanced Virological Institute in the third stage.
The Expert Committee also recommends the government to invite the earliest expression (EOI).
As part of the first stage to determine the fill-finish facility, the 85,000 sqft facility that is almost completed is needed for the vaccine industry, at the Park Sciences Sciences campus can be offered on rent to contract manufacturing organizations (CMOS), to arrange facilities and start marketing vaccines from here.
Because many of them already have facilities elsewhere in this country and will be ready to come to the country only if interesting terms are offered, rent for buildings can be repaired with subsidized rates, the recommended committee.
Further Committee said that CMOS such as Stasis Biopharma and Virchow Biotech participated in interaction were looking for built-up infrastructure to establish a fill-finish unit.
These companies already have an agreement with Russian-based vaccine manufacturing companies to fill-finish for sputnik vaccines and plan to expand their fill-finish facilities, where the country can provide attractive offers, said the committee.
Then recommend the government to invite EOI, conduct technical evaluations and short lists companies that meet the criteria for government feasibility.
Further Committee said that the government must float another EOI to choose companies interested in establishing manufacturing facilities and research and development facilities.
The Corporation of Industrial Development of the Kerala State must be asked to make it aware of 15-20 hectares as a separate zone in the Hili Science Park, for the vaccine production unit, he said.
The Committee said that the main incentives requested by companies including subsidized land on long-term leases, subsidized and water power, government equity or partnership, ease of regulations, guaranteed counters of the vaccine produced, the position of privileges for the procurement of the purchase agreement, the disturbance of the award, subsidies GST about domestic establishment-based incentives, labor generation subsidation, interest subsidies, loans with subsidized interest rates, capital expenditure subsidies of 30%, import duties and tax exemptions for special equipment scales and scales produce manufacturing, industrial grade pure water, etc.
It is said that the government can also consider preparing special purpose vehicles to present the process and engage with the company.
The Cabinet has decided to establish a Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing unit in the Hili Science Park in Thonnakkal.