South African Dy President Mashatile meets COO of Biological E Ltd to forge vaccine partnership
Hyderabad, June 4
South African Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile met with the Chief Operating Officer at Biological E Limited, Lakshminarayana Neti, in Hyderabad to forge a partnership over vaccine innovation.
Deputy President Mashatile emphasises the need for Indian pharmaceutical companies to invest in South Africa.
"Our meeting comes at a time when South Africa is intensifying its efforts to build resilient health systems, expand local manufacturing capacity, and deepen economic relations with trusted partners such as India. We welcome the prospect of extending this partnership to include technology transfer for the whole-cell 6-in-1 vaccine, which will be critical for future immunisation programmes across Africa," said Mashatile.
The Working Visit to India aims to align relations, deepen cooperation, and strengthen bonds between South Africa and India.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mashatile and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan held a working meeting in New Delhi, emphasising deeper economic cooperation and stronger strategic ties between the two countries.
The meeting, held at the Vice President's Enclave, brought together Mashatile and the South African delegation with their Indian counterparts as part of the Deputy President's working visit to India, aimed at identifying strategic partnerships and expanding economic opportunities.
During the discussions, Deputy President Mashatile and his counterpart reflected on the importance of leaders learning from each other's experiences.
"The exchange of perspectives at this level is not only symbolic but practical; it allows us to draw lessons from our respective journeys, to refine our approaches to governance, and to inspire our peoples with a vision of shared progress," Mashatile said.
Highlighting the potential for greater collaboration, the Deputy President noted that "India, with its advanced capabilities in digital innovation, manufacturing, and healthcare, provides avenues for collaboration that can uplift economies for both countries."
He also pointed to South Africa's potential in renewable energy, mining beneficiation, pharmaceuticals, information and communication technology (ICT), and infrastructure development as key sectors for future investment.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Excellent example of South-South cooperation. India's vaccine manufacturing capacity combined with Africa's health needs makes perfect sense. Hope this leads to more such partnerships beyond just vaccines - maybe in digital health and telemedicine too.
Good strategic alignment, but I hope India ensures proper IP protection in these deals. Technology transfer without safeguards could backfire. Also, we need more Indian companies to set up manufacturing units in Africa rather than just exporting from Hyderabad. Job creation should be a two-way street.
Finally some concrete action beyond just diplomatic visits! The 6-in-1 vaccine is crucial for Africa's childhood immunisation. But I hope our government also pushes for similar partnerships in renewable energy and digital infrastructure - South Africa has massive potential in solar and wind. Win-win for both nations! 🌍💉
While this is positive, I hope our government is also focusing on domestic vaccine equity. Many Indian states still struggle with vaccine coverage for children. Can't ignore our own backyard while helping others. But yes, global solidarity is important too - just need balance.
Brilliant move by both nations! India's pharma expertise plus Africa's growing market = perfect match. Mashatile seems genuinely interested in real partnerships, not just photo ops. Hope this translates into actual technology transfer and local production in South Africa soon.
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