VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

China’s Sinovac Biotech has secured $515 million in funding from a local firm to double production capacity of its coronavirus vaccine, the companies said on Monday, as it expects efficacy data of its experimental shot this month.

The investment deal also comes as Sinovac expands supply deals and trials of its experimental COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac with more countries following positive results from early to mid-stage clinical trials.

China’s Sino Biopharmaceutical Limited said on Monday a business unit will invest $515 million in Sinovac Life Sciences, a subsidiary of Sinovac, to help development and production of CoronaVac.

The investment will give Sino Biopharmaceutical a 15.03% interest in Sinovac Life Sciences, Sino Biopharmaceutical said in a filing to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Sinovac said in a separate statement that it would be able to manufacture 300 million vaccine doses annually and aims to complete construction of a second production facility by the end of 2020 to increase annual COVID-19 vaccine production capacity to 600 million doses.

Depending on market conditions and the availability of financing, it may seek to further expand its production capacity, Sinovac said.

Sinovac has secured CoronaVac supply deals with several countries including Indonesia, Turkey, Brazil and Chile, and is holding talks with the Philippines for a potential sale.

CoronaVac is also one of three experimental COVID-19 vaccines China has been using to inoculate around 1 million people under an emergency use programme.

Brazil’s Butantan Institute biomedical centre, which is running a Phase 3 trial of CoronaVac in the country, said last week that Sinovac was expected to publish efficacy results from its vaccine trials by Dec. 15. (Reuters)

The Finance Ministry's directorate general of customs and excise (DJBC) thwarted an attempt to illegally export 42,500 lobster seeds from the Batu Ampar Port in Batam and took into arrest three suspects.

The arrest was made in coordination with the Fish Quarantine and Inspection Agency (BKIPM-KHP) and Batam Port Authority.

Director for International Customs Affairs Syarif Hidayat noted in a statement here on Monday that the three suspects departed from Jakarta aboard a Kelud motor vessel on Friday (Dec 4).

"Customs officials received information on the plan to export lobster seeds illegally to Vietnam via Batam and Singapore," Hidayat remarked.

The authority found three sacks of clothing mixed with 157 plastic bags containing lobster seeds. Three suspects, identified by their initials as PB, DM, and AS, were arrested. The officials also seized 41,500 sand lobster seeds and one thousand pearl lobster seeds.

"The evidence and three suspects have been held at the Batam BKIPM-KHP office for further investigation," he remarked.

Hidayat made assurance of continued crackdown on lobster smuggling to preserve Indonesia's natural wealth. The office will also step up its coordination with ministries and institutions and security officers to intensify monitoring against lobster smuggling. (Antaranews)

Arrival of 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Chinese firm Sinovac in Indonesia will boost public confidence and security and dispel current uncertainty, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) stated.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God), of course, we welcome (the vaccine), because in 2021, the gamechangers would be first, the (COVID-19) vaccine and second, the job creation law," Kadin Chief Rosan Roeslani stated here on Monday.

Availability of the COVID-19 vaccine will encourage people to resume their activities and spending, thereby boosting demand, he pointed out.

"We laud the government's fast response, and (arrival of the vaccine) will offer a sense of certainty. Hopefully, it would also boost the health sector and bring about economic recovery," he remarked, adding that the vaccine will be distributed in January 2021 after undergoing some procedures by the National Drug and Food Monitoring Agency (BPOM).

As many as 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Sunday (Dec 6) at 9:25 p.m. western Indonesian time (WIB).

The vaccine was transported aboard Garuda Indonesia's special cargo plane Boeing 777-300 EA on the Jakarta-Beijing-Jakarta route.

Some 15 million additional doses of the vaccine will arrive later in December and 30 million doses in January in bulk raw material to then be processed by state-run pharmaceutical firm PT Bio Farma. (Antaranews)

Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto made assurance of the COVID-19 vaccine having arrived in Indonesia being sans defects and ready to be delivered to storage warehouses aboard a refrigerated transport vehicle.

"Physical checking must be conducted thoroughly until we are sure that the vaccine we receive is in good condition. No defect in packaging and content and temperature during the delivery has been set as per procedures," Putranto noted during a virtual press conference here on Monday.

The ministry ensured good condition of the refrigerated transport vehicle, provided by the state-run vaccine manufacturer PT Bio Farma, for monitoring and maintaining the vaccine temperature in accordance with the procedure.

The authority has prepared a storage warehouse with cold chain management for 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine received from China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd before being distributed to health offices nationwide.

Putranto remarked that medical workers, assistants to medical workers, and supporting workers in health facilities will be prioritized in the first batch of COVID-19 vaccination.

Each region will submit the respective vaccine requirement to the Committee on COVID-19 Response and National Economic Recovery.

The vaccination will be conducted in accordance with the good distribution practices for drugs (CDOB), the minister pointed out.

"Hopefully, the COVID-19 vaccination would be conducted on time and run smoothly. Hence, the pandemic can be overcome to protect all people and keep them healthy and productive during social and economic activities," he stated.

As many as 1.2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine ordered from China’s Sinovac Biotech Ltd arrived at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Tangerang, Banten, late on Sunday.

The vaccine was transported aboard a Garuda Indonesia's special cargo plane Boeing 777-300 EA. (Antaranews)