UAE-China JV to produce Sinopharm vaccine in Abu Dhabi

 

The UAE is gearing up to produce the Chinese Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in the country with the aim of boosting global vaccination efforts. Reportedly, China's state-owned Sinopharm CNBG and Abu Dhabi-based technology company Group 42 (G42) have partnered to launch a joint venture to produce at least 200 million COVID-19 vaccine doses annually at a new plant being built in the Khalifa Industrial Zone of Abu Dhabi (KIZAD).

With this development, the UAE has become the first country in the Arab region to set up a COVID-19 vaccine production facility. The first indigenous Coronavirus vaccine produced in the UAE under the Sinopharm-G42 joint venture would be called Hayat-Vax, as per a statement issued by the Abu Dhabi-based tech group.

"The joint venture is already producing Hayat-Vax with its partner Julphar (Gulf Pharmaceutical Industries) in the UAE with an initial capacity of 2 million doses per month," the G42 statement added.

UAE’s vaccination efforts

Significantly, the UAE was the first Arab nation to approve the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for general use in December 2020, noting that it proved 86 percent effective against the disease. Last year, the UAE conducted the Phase III clinical trials of the Sinopharm vaccine in collaboration with G42. The UAE has the second-highest national vaccination rate in the Middle East with more than 8.8 million doses administered so far at a rate of 81.7 doses per 100 people (as of March 28).

In the statement, Sinopharm Chairman Liu Jingzhen hailed the collaboration with the UAE that helped in transporting the COVID-19 vaccine doses to millions of people in the country, region, and the world as part of the global efforts to combat the pandemic crisis.

In November 2020, Abu Dhabi launched the Hope Consortium to bolster the reach of COVID-19 vaccines to countries across the world. According to UAE authorities, the consortium has distributed more than 20 million vaccine doses to 26 countries since its launch. Now, the Abu Dhabi-based partnership is targeting to transport 18 billion vaccines to various countries across the world by the end of the year. As per studies, Sinopharm vaccines can be easily maintained, stored, and transported at normal refrigerated temperatures which makes it a suitable solution for pandemic-affected countries in need.

UAE-China partnership

The UAE and China have witnessed long-standing historical relations. With this vaccine production deal, Abu Dhabi is aiming to further expand its ties with Beijing. Last week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid a two-day visit to the UAE, hailing the solid friendship and mutual trust between the two nations. During the Chinese diplomat's meeting with Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the two leaders affirmed UAE and China's continuous efforts to enhance cooperation in fighting the pandemic. The two leaders also agreed on exploring potential ways to expand vaccine diplomacy to benefit other countries globally in the fight against COVID-19.

The Chinese foreign minister launched the Sinopharm-G42 joint venture in the presence of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday with the aim of benefitting more countries and building a global community of health for everyone.

The project marks a new stage of cooperation between China and the UAE in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang Yi said.

UAE’s humanitarian role

Since the pandemic outbreak, the UAE has emerged as a leader in global humanitarian efforts to curtail the spread of the virus. As part of its international humanitarian response to COVID-19, the UAE has provided tonnes of medical and food aid to more than 70 countries in need. It partnered with several international organizations such as the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to expand the reach and effectiveness of its pandemic assistance.