JAKARTA - SOE Minister Erick Thohir met with US businessman Bill Gates to discuss the Gates Foundation's interest in collaborating with Biofarma in the transfer of mRNA vaccine development technology.
"Representing President Joko Widodo to meet with US businessman Bill Gates, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto and the Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati. In addition to discussing the issue of climate change, we also discussed the Gates Foundation's interest in collaborating with Biofarma in transfer of technology for the development of mRNA vaccines," said SOE Minister Erick Thohir on his official Instagram account @erickthohir quoted Thursday, November 4.
According to Erick Thohir, this is an acknowledgment of Bio Farma's capacity which plays a major role in the production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine so that the national vaccination program runs smoothly.
"I believe we will be able to encourage the development of biotechnology products in the country, so that Indonesia's health independence will soon be realized," said Erick Thohir.
Previously, the Minister of SOEs as well as the Chief Executive of the Committee for Handling COVID-19 and National Economic Recovery (KPC-PEN) Erick Thohir revealed that technological improvement in vaccine manufacturing, especially COVID-19, is very important, if Indonesia wants to become a hub or center of world vaccine production.
According to Erick Thohir, currently Bio Farma already owns and masters the technology for vaccine production using the inactivated virus method, and then recombinant protein technology.
Erick Thohir also added that this has received financial support from the government to improve technology such as mRNA and viral vector methods.
In addition, he also wants Indonesia to be able to produce its own COVID-19 vaccine through the Red and White Vaccine Program or open cooperation with other vaccine manufacturers.
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