We have secured (a commitment of) 80-130 million (doses) in the first quarter of 2021 and 210 million (doses) from the second to fourth quarters. In total, we have secured (a commitment of) 290-340 million doses in 2021.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - China and the United Arab Emirates have made assurance of supplying 290 million to 340 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine until the end of 2021 to Indonesia, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi stated.

Marsudi and State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, in the capacity as chief of the Committee for COVID-19 Handling and National Economic Recovery (KPCPEN), paid visits to China and the United Arab Emirates last week as part of the efforts to secure COVID-19 vaccine supplies.

"From the visits to the two countries, we have secured a commitment of 20-30 million (doses) of vaccine in 2020 and 290-240 million (doses) until the end of 2021," Marsudi stated at the Presidential Office in Jakarta on Monday.

"We have secured (a commitment of) 80-130 million (doses) in the first quarter of 2021 and 210 million (doses) from the second to fourth quarters. In total, we have secured (a commitment of) 290-340 million doses in 2021," she stated.

The minister highlighted the government’s short- and long-term efforts to meet the requirements for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The short-term efforts encompass securing a commitment of vaccine supplies from the United Arab Emirates and China, while the long-term efforts entail creating self-reliance in the production of the COVID-19 vaccine, she remarked.

"That is striving for self-reliance in the production of the red and white vaccine through the national team," she stated.

The United Arab Emirates health technology company G-42 Health Care Al Holding Rsc Ltd has committed itself to supplying 10 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Indonesia in the initial stage this year in cooperation with state-owned pharmaceutical company Kimia Farma.

In addition, Sinovac Biotech Ltd, China's pharmaceutical firm, concurred with the plan to lend priority to Indonesia in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine until the end of 2021 in association with state-owned vaccine producer PT Bio Farma.

While in China, Marsudi and Thohir also met with representatives of the Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd and vaccine producer CanSino Biologics/CanSinoBIO.
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Translator: Desca Lidya N/Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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