Ahmedabad: Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of the Pharmaceutical Academy for Global Excellence (PAGE) at Sanathal in Ahmedabad. PAGE is an industry-led national skilling initiative of Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA) member companies, which have earmarked $50 million for the programme aimed at enhancing pharmaceutical manufacturing and quality excellence.The event also marked the unveiling of the India Pharma Archives, commemorating 25 years of the IPA.“The pharmaceutical sector is a strategic national asset—one that directly impacts public health, economic strength, and global confidence in India’s capabilities. PAGE is a significant step towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat‘, strengthening domestic capabilities through advanced skills, quality excellence, and industry–academia collaboration.
Under the ‘Viksit Bharat 2047′ vision, India will move decisively from ‘Make in India’ to ‘Discover and Make in India’, with quality and innovation as the pillars of growth,” Shah said.Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel said the state has long been at the forefront of India’s pharmaceutical industry and that the PAGE would further strengthen Gujarat’s stature as a national pharma hub.Sharvil Patel, president of the IPA and managing director of Zydus Lifesciences, said, “PAGE represents the industry’s collective commitment to building world-class manufacturing and quality capabilities through skilled talent, practical training, and strong quality systems. In 1999, the Indian pharmaceutical industry was valued at $3 billion; it has now reached $60 billion and is expected to touch $125 billion by 2030.
“Zydus Lifesciences Ltd chairman Pankaj Patel, Torrent Pharma Ltd chairman emeritus Sudhir Mehta, Sun Pharma Ltd executive chairman Dilip Sanghvi, and other pharmaceutical industry leaders were present at the event.
