Bhubaneswar: The Orissa government is planning to set up a modern Biotech Pharma IT Park at Andharua on the outskirts of the capital city on Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode, Science and Technology Minister Dyuryodhan Majhi told the state Assembly today.

Replying to a question of Mr L B Mohapatra (Congress), the Minister said 64.860 acres of land had already been acquired for the purpose.

Bharat Biotech International Limited had been chosen as the developer for the park, Mr Majhi said adding Lease-Cum-Development agreement would soon be signed between the IDCO and the Bharat Biotech for the purpose.

The Minister said 20 domestic Pharma and Biotech Companies, five Clinical Research Organisations, 21 multi-national companies and seven local companies have so far shown keen interest to set up their units in the park.

The multi-national companies, who have shown interest to set up their units in the park, were--Pfizer, Novartis, Novo-Nordisk, Astra Zeneca, PPD, Paraxel, Icon, Kendle,Quintiles, Glaxo Smith Kline, Wyeth, Merck, Johnson and Johnson, Amgen, Gentech, Biogen Idec, Emerck,Takeda,LG, Korean Green Cross and Sanofi Pasteur.