KTR launches TS cold chain centre

Industries minister K.T. Rama Rao inaugurated the Telangana Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (CoE) to foster food and health security, empower farmers, and enhance exports. The initiative focuses on driving innovative and sustainable cooling practices and expediting the implementation of energy-efficient refrigeration systems for both food and vaccine supply chains across India. The CoE is located at the GMR Innovex Campus near GMR Airport in Hyderabad.

Conceived as a collaborative effort, the CoE is a joint venture involving the Government of Telangana, the Centre for Sustainable Cooling (CSC), the University of Birmingham, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the GMR Group.

Rama Rao stated, "The CoE is a groundbreaking endeavour in India, poised to provide comprehensive solutions to the challenges within the



cold chain ecosystem. Its mission is to develop and showcase cooling technologies and solutions that cater to the state's requirements and have the potential for global scalability."

Distinguished guests present at the inauguration included British Deputy High Commissioner Gareth Wynn Owen, Professor Toby Peters, the director of CSC, chairman of Telangana State Trade Promotion Corporation, M. Bikshapathi, Principal Secretary of Industries, Jayesh Ranjan, Special secretary for Investment Promotion, Dr E. Vishnu Reddy,  executive director of GHIAL, S.K.G. Kishore, director of Carrier Group Sustainability, Jimmy Washington and other officials.

Currently, Telangana state boasts pharmaceutical and vaccine exports worth $4 billion, which are dependent upon an efficient cold chain infrastructure.