Seoul making progress toward vaccine production hub goal
President Moon Jae-in bumps elbows with Cytiva CEO Emmanuel Ligner, left, who submitted a $52.5-million investment plan to Korea, during a signing ceremony for a South Korea-U.S. global vaccine partnership in New York, Tuesday. On the right is Korea's Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo. Yonhap
By Kwon Mee-yoo
President Moon Jae-in made progress in COVID-19 vaccine diplomacy during his visit to the U.S., taking one more step towards Korea becoming a vaccine production hub. Moon secured more vaccines for Korea's residents and in return, pledged to donate others to developing countries. Moon took part in a Korea-U.S. global vaccine partnership signing ceremony in New York, Tuesday, attracting a $52.5-million investment from U.S. vaccine material producer Cytiva.
This time is the first time that an overseas vaccine material producer has invested in Korea. Cytiva has the second-largest biopharmaceutical production capacity in the world.
Cytiva will make the investment from 2022 to 2024, with a plan to produce disposable cell culture fluid, an essential material for vaccine production, in short supply due to the pandemic, in Korea.
"Cytiva's investment is expected to establish a stable supply chain for vaccine materials and to contribute to Korea's plan to become a global vaccine hub," the Ministry of Health and Welfare said in a statement.
The vaccine partnership was first discussed during the summit between Moon and U.S. President Joe Biden in May, and the ceremony showed the fruits of the past four months of efforts towards scientific and technological cooperation. Korea and the U.S. also signed eight MOUs between vaccine-related companies and research institutes during the ceremony.
Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol speaks during a briefing on the South Korea-U.S. global vaccine partnership at a hotel in New York, Tuesday. Yonhap
Moon also emphasized that Korea is making efforts to be a more responsible international player in vaccine distribution.
At his speech at the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Moment session, Monday, Moon said that Korea's "commitment to inclusion and mutual prosperity must be immediately put into action now."
"That action can begin with equitable access to and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines by the international community. At the G7, Korea made a $200-million pledge to COVAX AMC. As one of the global vaccine hubs, we are committed to making continued endeavors to expand vaccine supply and support," Moon said.
Moon continued his vaccine diplomacy, Tuesday, meeting with his British and Vietnamese counterparts, as well as the head of Pfizer.
During his meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Moon discussed a vaccine swap with the U.K., and later announced that Korea will receive 1 million doses of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from the U.K., starting Sept. 25.
He pledged to provide Vietnam with at least 1 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by October during his summit talks with Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phu in New York on Tuesday.
This initiative marks Korea's first direct supplying of COVID-19 vaccines to another country, though it has been providing financial support for them through the COVAX initiative.
Moon and Phuc agreed on a health and vaccine partnership between the two nations, and Moon asked for Vietnam's support for the clinical trials of Korean companies' COVID-19 vaccines in Vietnam.
President Moon also had talks with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, reaffirming Korea's plan to secure an additional supply of the Pfizer vaccine next year. Korea had already signed a contract to receive 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine next year, but Moon has requested early supplies of the vaccine, as the need for COVID-19 booster shots is rising.