ACG yesterday announced that it has signed an MoU with the Government of Maharashtra to set up Asia’s largest manufacturing plant-cum-R&D centre at Aurangabad in Maharashtra, to produce 40 billion capsules a year. The plant will serve both, Indian and international pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies.

A statement from the company quoted Karan Singh, Managing Director, ACG, as saying, “Our vision to be a future-ready solutions provider to the pharma industry anywhere in the world and our proposed investment of approximately $100 million (over Rs 600 crores) in this state-of-the-art plant, is an integral part of ACG’s mission to double our capsule-manufacturing capacity to 240 billion capsules a year. This plant will play a key role in further cementing India’s position as the global hub of capsule manufacturing and will add to improved access to high-quality, safe and affordable medicines and nutraceuticals globally.”

According to the statement, the proposed plant, billed as Asia’s largest single-location capsule-manufacturing facility is part of ACG’s mission to ‘Make it better’ by providing exceptional solutions to produce the best and safest medicines to its customers, and enable access and affordable healthcare to all.

Nitin Desai, Senior Vice President, ACG, said, “We have a long history of operating in Maharashtra and are privileged to sign this MoU with the Government of Maharashtra for this mega project, which, when ready by 2023, will create around 1,000 direct and indirect jobs in the region.”

The plant will employ key design principles from the internationally-recognised Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and will be powered significantly by green renewable energy to create and sustain value. Setting new benchmarks for the industry, it will employ automation and industry 4.0 technologies to minimise resource intensity and ensure products meet and exceed the highest Global Manufacturing Practices (GMP). The Government of Maharashtra has accorded a ‘Mega Project’ status to this project, said the statement.