THE Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has estimated that biotechnology sector would reach a turnover of US $ 5billion by 2010 and create more jobs across India.

Welcoming the Draft National Biotech Development Strategy, the CII recently said the policy would entail the sector to move from limited successes to being one of the important global players and help attract both domestic and foreign investment.

The CII said that the Draft National Biotech Development Strategy would provide a roadmap to achieve an annual turnover of US$ 5 billion by 2010, as a realistic goal, and would help in creating more jobs across India.

The thrust of the draft policy is on education and training and it provides for setting up a National Task Force to help in formulating model undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum in life sciences and biotechnology to meet future needs.

The CII has suggested that there is a need for more trained technicians with excellent laboratory skills. Training of technicians, particularly for the chemical industry, could be reoriented on the German model of producing technicians and it has called for independent biotechnology function at the technician level.

It has also suggested two-dimensional organisations in institutions for training scientists/ researchers, physiology, with biotechnology function. The draft strategy would also encourage public-private partnership in Ph. D programmes through creation of Bio-Edu-Grid, a network of universities and industries facilitating pooling of resources.

It has recommended accreditation of education in biotechnology, to minimise the threat posed due to fly-by-night operators. — ANI