President Paul Kagame this afternoon arrived in Marburg, Germany to attend a presentation and discussion on BioNTech vaccine production facilities to be built across Africa.
The head of state is expected to be joined by BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin, President Macky Sall of Senegal and Ghana’s President Nana Akufo Addo, among other project partners.
President Kagame’s visit comes after Rwanda and Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal last year in October signed agreements with German firm, BioNTech, for construction of mRNA vaccine manufacturing facilities in Africa.
During the meeting, initiated by the kENUP Foundation, BioNTech is expected to unveil its modular container prototype, known as BioNTainers.
The modular systems consist of 12 sea containers housing the same manufacturing process and equipment used in its factory.
BioNTech is expected to begin construction to house the BioNTainers in Rwanda later this year, with the production line expected to initially produce 50 million doses, and the potential to later increase gradually, according to a statement from the Office of the President.
Commenting about the development in a tweet, Stephanie Nyombayire, the Presidential Press Secretary who is also part of the delegation from Rwanda, described it as historical.
"The key to vaccine equity is technology and skills transfer and that is what this project achieves. This is a historical development that will have an impact beyond addressing the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said via her official Twitter account.
The German biotechnology company’s manufacturing facility began production in February 2021 and currently employs approximately 300 people.
Before transferring manufacturing capacities to local partners, it plans to initially staff, own and operate the facility to support safe and rapid launch of vaccine dose production while simultaneously conducting training of local personnel.
As part of the partnership with BioNTech, the Government of Rwanda and Institut Pasteur de Dakar will also establish facilities for "fill-and-finish” capacities, focusing on final production stages and bottling of vaccine doses.
Vaccine distribution
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that Africa imports approximately 99% of vaccines administered, against which backdrop; experts believe that the development of these new vaccine manufacturing facilities will significantly reduce the continent's dependence on imports.
The African Union (AU) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are aiming to have 60 percent of Africa’s vaccines produced locally by 2040.