NEW DELHI, OCT 31: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has approved setting up a regional centre for biotechnology training and education in India.

The recently concluded Unesco general conference in Paris adopted an universal declaration on bioethics and human rights. According to a government release, minister for human resources development Arjun Singh presided over the meeting of the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with Unesco on Monday.

Singh informed the commision that the Indian delegation at the general conference played a pro-active role in the interests of the country and the developing world. India was elected to the executive board of Unesco, and for the first time in 60 years, India chaired a commission of the general conference.

At the conference, the international convention against doping in sports and universal declaration on bioethics and human Rights were adopted by acclamation, while the convention on cultural diversity was adopted after debate.

Arjun Singh chaired the first session of the education for all (EFA) ministerial round table entitled 'Five years after Dakar: Overview of progress and challenges in EFA'. Minister for science and technology Kapil Sibal participated in the second ministerial round table meeting entitled "The basic sciences: The scientific lever for development".

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HYDERABAD, NOV 2: Pharma major Novartis Inc, has proposed to set up a huge research and development facility near Hyderabad with an overall investment of Rs 500 crore in the next five years. This would figure among the largest foreign investment in an R&D facility in India.

Besides, the company also plans to establish IT backup facility at the same site, sources told FE
According to Andhra Pradesh government sources, the company is expected to sign an agreement with the government next week to formalise the land sale. Hyderabad is probably being chosen for its unofficial status as India's bulk drugs capital. Besides, Hyderabad is believed to have a pool of over 10,000 scientists. Some of India's most well known research laboratories like the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology and the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology are also based in Hyderabad. Together, these factors provide for an eco-system to support research in the city.

The company is seeking about 150 acres of land to pursue its research business in India, sources said. The government has agreed in-principle to provide the land in Medak district, the hometown of the state industry minister Geeta Reddy. The location will also be the IT backend source for the company.

"The company has identified the required land at Sultanpur in Medak district and it is expected to enter into an agreement with the AP government next week," reliable sources said.

They said that the government is selling the proposed land at a cost of Rs 30 lakh per acre. The project, once completed in the next five years, will generate about 5,000 direct jobs, sources added.

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