The President made the appreciation on Friday 27th August 2021 after participating in a meeting with the CEO of BioNTech, Uğur Şahin convened by KENUP Foundation on the sidelines of G20 Compact with Africa Investment Summit.

The meeting aimed at agreeing on a way forward for the development of end-to-end vaccine production in Africa, starting with Rwanda and Senegal was also attended by the President of Senegal, Macky Sall and President of European Union Commission, Ursuka von der Leyen.

On Friday, BioNTech revealed that Rwanda and Senegal have been selected for potential malaria and tuberculosis mRNA vaccine manufacturing.

Kagame hailed BioNTech for expressing interest to provide technology needed on the African continent and highlighted that achieved milestone reflects fruits of working together.

“We cannot afford business as usual. I appreciate the urgency that all of us here are bringing to the table. And this is the basis upon which I suggest we move forward. Africa works best, when it works together. It is important that this initiative builds on a continent-wide strategy elaborated through the African Union and the Africa CDC. End-to-end production of mRNA vaccines is possible in Africa, thanks to innovations in engineering being undertaken by BioNTech and its partners, among others,” he said.

“Thank you BioNTech not only for being the genius behind this technology but also for having this vision that Africa, the place that needs what is being done urgently, is also associated and benefits," added Kagame.

The President also thanked the President of EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen as well as organizations including Mastercard Foundation and International Finance Corporation for their contribution.

The company’s Pfizer-partnered COVID-19 vaccine has given it a hefty financial boost. BioNTech expects to rake in €15.9 billion ($18.7 billion) in Comirnaty sales during 2021 alone, likely launching the company among the world’s top 20 drugmakers by revenue this year.

BioNTech had previously expressed interest in taking its manufacturing to Africa when it first announced its intentions to develop a malaria vaccine in late July.

Friday, the biotech said it affirmed those plans in a meeting with Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, Senegal’s President Macky Sall and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission.

The company has already started evaluating the manufacturing capabilities in each country, BioNTech said. The decision to narrow its search to Senegal and Rwanda came after guidance from the African Union, the Africa CDC and the African Medical Agency, the union’s drug regulator still under formation.

The locations of the sites within each country, which have yet to be decided, will eventually co-locate with the WHO’s upcoming vaccine hubs, sites the organization has used against the coronavirus and influenza to transfer manufacturing know-how.

The company’s Pfizer-partnered COVID-19 vaccine has given it a hefty financial boost. BioNTech expects to rake in €15.9 billion ($18.7 billion) in Comirnaty sales during 2021 alone, likely launching the company among the world’s top 20 drugmakers by revenue this year.

President Paul Kagame and Macky Sall of Senegal with the President of European Union Commission, Ursula von der Leyen and other participants of the meeting.