AstraZeneca speeds up transfer of drug, vaccine production technology to Vietnam
Thursday, January 20, 2022, 12:52 GMT+7
AstraZeneca is seeking a Vietnamese partner to expedite the transfer of its COVID-19 vaccine production technology, the company said at a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
PM Chinh hosted a reception for Nitin Kapoor, chairman and general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, in Hanoi on Wednesday.
The meeting was also attended by Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long and leaders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The premier praised AstraZeneca’s role in and contributions to the fight against COVID-19 in both the world and Vietnam, adding that the company had completed a contract to provide 30 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for Vietnam in 2021, enabling the country to switch to its current model of living safely with the pandemic.
Kapoor spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts in implementing its vaccine diplomacy policy, describing the country as an exemplary model in pandemic prevention and control.
He gave some updates on the implementation of agreements reached by PM Chinh and AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot in their meeting last November during the premier’s visit to the UK.
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| Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) talks with chairman and general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam Nitin Kapoor in Hanoi, January 19, 2022. Photo: Vietnam News Agency |
AstraZeneca is speeding up a US$90 million project to transfer drug manufacturing technology to Vietnam and is seeking a Vietnamese partner to which it can transfer vaccine production technology, Kapoor continued.
The biopharmaceutical firm is also considering reducing its vaccine price for Vietnam, he added.
PM Chinh proposed that AstraZeneca continue to realize its committed projects in Vietnam as well as supply new-generation COVID-19 vaccines and treatment medicines to the Southeast Asian country.
The government leader also asked the company to share international experience in giving COVID-19 vaccines to children aged five to 12.
The Vietnamese government will support and create favorable conditions for AstraZeneca to implement its research, production, and technology transfer projects in Vietnam.
He hoped that the firm will keep accompanying Vietnam's healthcare sector, contributing to deepening the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership.
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