VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

 Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said here on Wednesday that national health security and independence will be her two diplomatic priorities for 2021.

“Our focus is to realize the commitments on vaccines through bilateral and multilateral partnerships,” the minister said as she virtually delivered the 2021 Annual Minister of Foreign Affairs Statement (PPTM).

Besides securing vaccine supplies, Indonesia will prioritize strengthening research and transfer of technology in the public health sector, as well as increasing response and preparedness to deal with future pandemics at the national, regional, and global levels, she added.

Marsudi also highlighted the importance of increasing international participation to support national health industries, which cover pharmaceutical raw materials, pharmacy, and health tools and facilities.

The foreign minister, in her annual statement, also unveiled plans to turn Indonesia into one of the world’s leading producers of personnel protective equipment (PPEs), which are critical to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Indonesia, Marsudi announced, has collected two international certificates, ISO16603 and ISO16604, on manufacturing PPEs.

The Indonesian government last year signed multiple deals to secure vaccine supplies with China’s bio-pharmaceutical companies and a UK-based vaccine producer. Meanwhile, on the multilateral track, Indonesia has joined a global vaccine partnership, COVAX Facility, which is led by GAVI, CEPI, and the World Health Organization, the minister added. By joining COVAX, Indonesia has secured COVID-19 vaccine doses for 20 percent of its total population, she informed.

In her speech, Marsudi also mentioned Indonesia’s contribution as a member in CEPI’s Investors Council and said she expected there will be more opportunities for state-owned vaccine producer Bio Farma (Persero) and CEPI to cooperate in manufacturing vaccines for global supply.

“Indonesia, since the very beginning of the pandemic, has called for (COVID-19) vaccine as a public good and its equal, safe, and affordable access for all,” the minister highlighted in her annual statement. (antaranews)