Today: 30 May 2025
31 October 2021
3 mins read

India ready to produce 5 bn Covid-19 jabs by 2022

In his address at G20 Leaders’ Summit, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s contribution in the fight against the pandemic and also mentioned medical supplies to over 150 countries, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that once the World Health Organization (WHO) approves Covaxin, India’s indigenous vaccine against Covid-19, New Delhi can supply five billion dosages to the developing countries as its contribution to reducing jab inequities.

He made the remarks on Saturday while was speaking at the first session on ‘Global Economy and Global Health’ at the inaugural ceremony of the G20 Leaders’ Summit with the other leaders of the world’s biggest economies in Rome.

In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s contribution in the fight against the pandemic and also mentioned medical supplies to over 150 countries.

“The Prime Minister conveyed that India has not only vaccinated over a billion of our citizens but more importantly, we are ready to produce over five billion vaccine dosage by the end of next year and this would be available for not only our citizens but also for the rest of the world. And that, this is our own contribution to reducing vaccine inequities, especially in the developing world,” Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told mediapersons.

“We also believe that the WHO’s approval for emergency use authorisation for Covaxin, our indigenous vaccine, pending with them, would facilitate this process of assisting other countries.”

Modi spoke about India’s vision of ‘One Earth One Health’, which is essentially the need for a collaborative approach in the international domain in the fight against corona pandemic, Shringla said, adding: “Collaboration in R&D to collaborations in combating pandemics, collaborations across the board in developing mechanisms that can cope with future pandemics and future global health issues.

“There was an emphasis on vaccine research, manufacturing, and innovation. We have invested a fair amount in that effort in order to make it available for our citizens and citizens all across the world.”

The Prime Minister stressed on the need for resilient global supply chains, and also mentioned India’s bold economic reforms, and the lowering of the cost of doing business in India, according to the Foreign Secretary.

He spoke about innovations in India, efforts at developing a culture of innovations. He invited the G20 countries to make India their partner in economic recovery and supply chain diversification.

“The Prime Minister also brought out the fact that despite the challenges of the pandemic, India continued to be a trusted partner in the context of reliable supply chains, the IT sector, the BPOs, we did not allow the pandemic to come in the way of our contribution in the overall chain in the global processes.

“The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over G20’s decision to come up with the 15 per cent minimum Corporate Tax. It was at the 2014 G20 Summit that the Prime Minister had first proposed this idea of a minimum corporate tax in order to prevent to some extent the evasion of taxes.

“Today there is satisfaction over the fact that the G20 has actually adopted this. This has become a global norm. And this is a very important step in ensuring more rationalised global tax structures and better cooperation in the international domain when it comes to issues like tax evasion, money laundering, corruption and so on and so forth, some of the issues that G20 is currently dealing with,” Shringla added.

Earlier at the G20 Summit venue, Modi and the other world leaders, first interacted informally with each other, posed for a family photo, and generally exchanged pleasantries.

Modi held two bilateral meetings, with French President Emmanuel Macron and the Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Prior to the G20 Summit, the Prime Minister had met Pope Francis at the Vatican and also attended a cultural event.

ALSO READ-‘Brazil, UAE can collaborate on vaccines for future pandemics’

READ MORE-Boris, Modi talk vaccine certification, Afghan situation

Previous Story

IOM deported 140 illegal Bangladeshi migrants from Libya

Next Story

Global Covid-19 caseload tops 246.3 mn

Latest from -Top News

White House: Israel OKs Gaza Truce

Hamas said Thursday that its leadership had received a new Gaza ceasefire proposal from Witkoff through the mediators and was studying it…reports Asian Lite News The White House said that Israel has

Saudi backs India’s strategic outreach

In a series of engagements, the Indian delegation met Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State Adel Al-Jubeir and other senior officials. A high-profile Indian all-party parliamentary delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay

Iran pressed over 3 missing Indians

The embassy stated that it is maintaining close contact with the families and keeping them regularly updated about the steps being taken….reports Asian Lite News The Indian government has urged Iranian authorities

EU-UAE FTA talks amid US tariff pressure

Talks will also explore ways to boost trade in strategic sectors, such as renewable energy, green hydrogen and critical raw materials….reports Asian Lite News The European Union (EU) and the United Arab
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Vibrant Indian Culture on Display at Riyadh Season

Many artists from the Indian community in Saudi Arabia performed,

India ‘Deeply Concerned’ Over Red Sea Unrest

Indian Navy is assisting to secure the shipping lines to