Asian Tech Press (Sep 10) -- Serbia started building Europe's first plant to produce China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine, President Aleksandar Vučić announced Thursday.
The ceremony of laying the foundations of a Sinopharm vaccine factory was held in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia, on September 9, with the presence of President Vučić, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo, and representatives of Chinese and UAE companies.
The first phase of this vaccine factory covers an area of 11,800 square meters, with an annual capacity of about 30 million doses and up to 40 million doses.
Vučić said that in addition to ensuring Serbia's own demand, the COVID-19 vaccine produced at the plant will be supplied to other countries in the Balkans and other European regions.
In addition, 300 specialized technicians will be working at the plant.
The plant is expected to be inaugurated in the first quarter of next year. When the plant is built, Serbia will be the first European country to produce China's COVID-19 vaccine.
It is understood that the agreement was signed by representatives of Serbia, China and the United Arab Emirates on July 12.
On September 3, raw materials, which are to be used by Chinese state-owned drugmaker Sinopharm Group Co. Ltd. to produce vaccines in Serbia, arrived in Belgrade.
