TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said the government continues to encourage the development of the vaccine industry in Indonesia.

According to him, in April 2022 there will be a vaccine factory that will produce the mRNA vaccine. The vaccine production is a collaboration between Indonesian and Chinese companies. However, Luhut did not disclose the name of the companies.

"There is already one that will be produced in April (2022) in collaboration with mRNA, a collaboration between Indonesian and Chinese companies," said Luhut in a webinar, Tuesday, August 24, 2021.

On the other hand, the development of the Merah Putih Vaccine is also continuously being carried out. Luhut targets the vaccine to start production in May or June 2022.

Luhut said the government is now continuing to boost vaccinations in the context of handling the Covid-19 pandemic. He claims that vaccination in the country is getting better.

Citing President Joko Widodo's statement, he hopes that by the end of August 2021, the target of 100 million vaccinations can be achieved. Furthermore, by September 2021, he is targeting an additional 60 million vaccinations.

"And by the end of the year we will (have) a total of 200 million. I think this is good," said Luhut.

Luhut then invited entrepreneurs to enter the health sector. "Apindo which will enter the health sector is very good at this time, because we are carrying out reformation in the health sector."

Read: Luhut says Overwhelmed Hospitals Contribute to Soaring COVID-19 Deaths

CAESAR AKBAR | MAUDEY K. SETYAKUSUMA (Internship)