As the Covid-19 third wave ebbs, it is time to get back to our normal life as it was before March 2020. What better way than meet in person, exchange notes and plan together for the future. With this in mind, we are planning to celebrate the 19th anniversary on ABLE in Bengaluru on 22nd March 22 as a physical event. The event will also mark the resumption of ABLE’s ‘BioEconomy Conclave’ Series where industry leaders will interact with nation’s leading policy makers, celebrate the success stories of our innovative companies and prepare to face the challenges that may confront us in the near future.

More details will be shared soon.

Meanwhile, ABLE is proud of the fact that two of our key member companies have been recognized by the nation for their impressive efforts to vaccinate the nation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Serum Institute of India’s founder chairman Dr Cyrus Poonawalla has been bestowed with the ‘Padma Bhushan’ award for the stupendous efforts to supply over 150 crore doses of Covishield vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Also, Bharat Biotech’s co-founders Dr Krishna Ella and Mrs Suchitra Ella too have been honored with the ‘Padma Bhushan’ for their tireless efforts to produce the first home-made Covid vaccine, Covaxin.

Adding to the lustre is the prestigious 2022 William C Holmberg Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Advanced Bioeconomy category being given to our member Praj Industries Founder and executive chairman Dr Pramod Chaudhari. He is the first recipient of this global award from Asia.

Team ABLE has successfully submitted the inputs gathered from our members on the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill 2021 to the Joint Parliamentary Committee chaired by Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, MP. We are hopeful that Parliament will approve the various industry suggestions and pave the way for better utilization of our immense biological resources for the greater benefit of humanity.

We are happy to note that the Union Budget for 2022-23 has responded to an issue for greater protection of export/import data privacy raised by an ABLE delegation with the Finance Minister, Mrs Nirmala Sitharaman in July 2021.

This newsletter has details of key changes being made in the various tax laws that will be beneficial to many of our members in 2022-23 and also the accolades won by our members in the recent past

Happy Reading!

G S Krishnan

Hon. President, ABLE