States » WestPosted at: Oct 16 2026 7:59PM


Fadnavis praises AstraZeneca for opening Mumbai office, Thanks pharma company for Covid vaccine

Bobby Anthony
Mumbai, Oct 16 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here on Friday that pharma multinational AstraZeneca will be remembered for its commendable work during the Covid crisis, as he graced the inauguration of the company’s news headquarters in Mumbai.
“I would like to congratulate AstraZeneca for inaugurating its state-of-the-art headquarters in Mumbai. I am more pleased to know that earlier your headquarters used to be in Bengaluru and now it is located in Mumbai. Congratulations for locating yourself at a new international address,
“I would like to thank AstraZeneca for your extremely hard work during COVID and the way your Covishield vaccine helped all our fellow Indians. I think we just cannot forget what you have done for us. So thank you,” Fadnavis said at the AstraZeneca headquarters, addressing company executives.
Fadnavis recalled how Covid caused a testing time not just for India and the entire world.
“We could supply COVID vaccine to 99 countries and I think in that endeavour you (AstraZeneca) had a very big contribution,” Fadnavis said.
Promising all support to the company, Fadnavis told AstraZeneca executives, “I would like to assure you that this is one of the most business friendly governments in India. We want to work with businesses because we understand that when businesses grow, we also grow together”.
“That is why I would also like you to expand more and look at different areas whereby you'll be able to serve the people more. In that endeavour, the government of Maharashtra will be always ready to provide any support you may require. We are always there to provide any policy support or any other support. Our team is always ready and we’ll be very happy to partner with you,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis said that the world is driven by innovation and that India has been a pharmacy to the world. “India has been a pharmacy to the world and even in the extremely regulated markets like USA and Europe, Indian drugs and especially generic drugs have captured the market. Indian drugs and drug manufacturing have developed global capabilities and global quality,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis said that now it is time for the Indian pharmaceutical sector to do more innovations and spoke about how Prime Minister Modi has a vision. He expressed hopes that in the near future many bulk drug parks would be opened in India and the Indian pharmaceutical sector will witness a big change.
“As you have rightly said, in oncology, AstraZeneca is trying to develop drugs which will cure cancer and death will occur only in the rarest of rare cases. During my visit to the World Economic Forum, in Davos, the Swiss health minister told me that all the kids born in Switzerland after the year 2000 will live for 100 years. I think that is something which we need to achieve.
"Healthcare has to be accessible, affordable and be of good quality. It can be achieved only through innovation,” Fadnavis said.
Fadnavis said innovation can ensure precise diagnosis and treatment. “I am sure that with your presence here, we’ll see a lot of innovation happening as new drugs are innovated and manufactured. I would also like to tell you that we are bringing global academia world-class universities to Mumbai. You may partner with these universities and also our own institutions of excellence whereby this work of innovation can be carried out in a structured way.
"All the bright young minds who are in the space of innovation can be leveraged for this endeavour,” Fadnavis said.
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Tags: #Fadnavis praises AstraZeneca for opening Mumbai office# Thanks pharma company for Covid vaccine
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