News & Events

In 2022, BioNTech laid out a plan to enable African countries to produce its Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine under the company’s supervision. The goal is to promote vaccine equity and self-reliance for the region. Currently, Africa relies on imports for 99% of its vaccine needs according to the World Health Organization.

The Kigali facility will have an initial capacity to produce 50 million doses of the mRNA vaccine per year. However, it can be scaled up over time to produce several hundred million doses as needed. The modular design allows capacity to be expanded. Local staff will be trained to operate the facility to ensure knowledge transfer. The goal is for the Kigali site to eventually manufacture a portfolio of mRNA-based vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis and other diseases relevant to the region.

Rwanda was chosen as the location thanks to its relative political stability and support from government leadership. BioNTech’s goal is to spread manufacturing capacity worldwide to improve global access to vaccines when future pandemics arise.

Read the original article here: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/biontech-aims-to-start-mrna-vaccine-output-in-rwanda-in-2025/ar-AA1lJJUH

The Eswatini National Plant Health Inspection Services (NaPHIS), in collaboration with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat and other partners, concluded a seven-month assessment of Eswatini’s phytosanitary system. The partners included the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Commerce and Trade, Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Peak Timbers, Nisela Farms, and NamBoard.

During the workshops, participants from NaPHIS, representatives of other government departments, the national phytosanitary industry, grower associations and IPPC Secretariat staff reviewed and validated the outcomes of the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE). They also shared key outcomes with development partners. The PCE project, co-signed by the Government of Eswatini, falls within the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Policy Framework for Africa developed by the African Union (AU). It aims to spur trade among AU Member States and is being implemented in close collaboration with the African Commission Division for Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC DARBE). The comprehensive evaluation provided critical insights into the strengths and weaknesses of Eswatini’s phytosanitary system.

Read the original article here: https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/eswatini-concludes-evaluation-of-its-national-phytosanitary-system-to-better-protect-plant-health?lang=en

Ghana’s Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has praised the innovative strides being made by players and stakeholders in its digital ecosystem, especially in the area of fintech. Speaking at the award ceremony for the first eCedi Hackathon competition hosted by the Bank of Ghana in partnership with EMTECH Solution Inc., Dr Bawumia expressed delight at the ongoing embrace of digital solutions to solve everyday problems. He encouraged the youth to engage more with technology.

The eCedi Hackathon brings together the brightest minds in technology and finance to explore the possibilities of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). The competition is designed to foster innovation, drive technological advancement, and develop solutions that will redefine the financial landscape in Ghana.

Dr Bawumia said the technological feats achieved so far validate the government’s decision to establish a solid foundation for the digital transformation of Ghana’s economy for inclusive development. He hailed the eCedi Hackathon as an example of how Ghana is making strides in the digital ecosystem, especially in fintech.

Read the original article here: https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/embrace-engage-technology-to-accelerate-ghanas-development–dr-bawumia-to-the-youth?lang=en