Indonesia Finalizing MoU with Russia to Produce Sputnik V Locally

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi said the country is exploring to cooperate with Russia to produce the Sputnik V vaccine. The two countries are finalizing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on health cooperation to produce the vaccine.

The MoU, Retno said, will serve as a foundation for partnerships in the health sector, both for the medium and long term. "All cooperation will follow guidelines from health authorities of the two countries, as well as the World Health Organization," said Retno in a written statement, Tuesday, July 6.

In addition to supplying the Sputnik V vaccine, Russia also discussed about the possibility for Indonesia to produce the Sputik V locally. 

Retno said that the head of the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency (BPOM), Penny Lukito, visited Russia to see firsthand the Sputnik V vaccine production facility.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Retno added, the two nations have been working together to battle the coronavirus. The collaborations include, among others, deliveries of anti-viral drugs and medical equipment from Russia.

"President Joko Widodo and President (Russia) Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone March 2020, about working together to mitigate the pandemic," Retno said.

Read: Russia to Administer New Single-dose Covid-19 vaccine

 Antara