Your Excellency, Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, Her Excellency, Jeannette Kagame, First Lady of the Republic of Rwanda, Your Excellency, Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, Your Excellency, Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, Honorable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, Your Excellency, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Your Excellency, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Honorable Annalena Baerbock, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Germany, Honorable Dr. Joe Phaahla, Minister representing the President of South Africa, Ambassador Gervais Ndayishimiye, Minister representing President of Burundi, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, BioNTech leadership, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, a very, very warm welcome to the inaugural ceremony of the BioNTech sites. This is an event dedicated to the paramount cause of working together to promote vaccine equity for Africa. My name is Fiona Muthoni Naringwa, and I'm delighted to be your host for this afternoon. Today marks a very significant milestone, dedication, and a symbol of innovation in the relentless pursuit of advancing healthcare solutions, not only in Rwanda, but across the continent. Your Excellencies, during this morning's discussions, not only did they shed light on some of the challenges faced here within the African continent, but a pathway was provided to achieving a more equitable distribution of vaccines, fostering hope and resilience among communities. To get us started, kindly turn your attention to the screen for an exclusive look behind the scenes in the making of this incredible BioNTech site. The interesting thing was really when we started this project, it was quite science fictiony, right? The BioNTainers were an idea in the early stages of the pandemic. So in, in March 2020, so when the pandemic really just started with the lockdowns and so on, we, we knew if we had a vaccine, which we were developing, but we were not quite sure, we knew thinking from the end, we need billions of doses to be produced. And then we were thinking: how do we do this? And we have to have a concept to scale it up. And we were thinking modular, we were thinking containers, and then a colleague actually took a pen and drew the first sketch of like, "This is how it could look like. The BioNTech is an assembly of containers that contain both the clean rooms and the equipment that's needed to manufacture, to run a process from end to end, essentially. The BioNTech addresses a number of problems. First of all, making manufacturing available where it is needed. Yeah. And the second is making it available as quickly as possible. That means when the vaccine is approved and the rollout happens. The technical aspects of that is, if we want to address manufacturing, we want, of course, to have the same quality everywhere. Yeah. So that means regardless whether a vaccine is produced in Europe or in the U.S. or in Africa, it should be the same quality, it should be the same process, and it should be the same material. Yeah. So what the BioNTech solution should accomplish is fast manufacturing and manufacturing the same quality as anywhere else. The concept of a BioNTainer is you need six 40-foot sea containers, so three on the bottom, three on the top. On the top, you have like, HVAC systems and IT and so on, and then the bottom, you have the clean room. Basically, it's six containers that form one BioNTainer. And you need one BioNTainer for drug substance production and one BioNTainer for the formulation. So the first milestone that was really moving is when I first saw one in our BioNTainer Incubation Center, Innovation Center in Marburg. So it looked very great, very nice, with like a space wide, like a space station, and, it was surrounded by all the people that were looking at it. It was fantastic view. This is the big facility. So this is where we actually house the first prototypes of the BioNTainers. We, as a team, are working collectively to try and get the whole facility up and running, to be able to use it as a blueprint for other facilities that we'll set up around the world in future. The first one being the one in Rwanda, of course. It's all part of our mission here at BioNTech to improve access to medicines to people globally and all communities around the world. One advantage of the BioNTainers is you can deploy them fairly quickly because you can produce all of this high tech at home. So saying, then you can put it on any mobile vehicle, be it a ship, be it a plane, be it a train or something, a truck. The second milestone was when we transported to Rwanda, and the plane came in. It's like a really big bird that landed on the runway in Kigali, turned around, and then opened the hatch, and out came six containers, i.e., one big BioNTainer. When I came in May, the BioNTainers had arrived in March, and going to the warehouse and seeing this BioNTainer that people had told me about before I joined BioNTech, it was a surreal moment that this is really happening. The second milestone is actually the arrival of the BioNTainers in March this year, where we could actually even sense more of now having the BioNTainer babies. That's how we all call them here. When I learned about this project, when I saw it on the news, I was very intrigued, and I really wanted to join and make a difference because me being part of BioNTech is making a difference for Rwanda and for Africa again. So the BioNTainer concept is not only like the hardware or the clean room, it's also the automation concept, it's a design concept, and it's also the documentation around that. And very important, it's also the training of the people that work inside the BioNTainer. So with BioNTech establishing its manufacturing site here in Kigali, it was going to be a groundbreaking initiative for Africa. And it's really glad to also see that the people who are going to be working in the facility are coming from across Africa. [Non-English content] During the pandemic, we have basically learned two things. One thing is that, our technology, which we have developed, mRNA, is very powerful and could help to address infectious diseases in particular. And the second thing we have learned is that there is still a lot to do in order to ensure health equity, and this is not only a task for selected people, but for all citizens of this world. There's a specific moment that highlighted to me why BioNTech is different, and that's its in culture. We were in a meeting, a discussion, and one of the senior managers pointed out that all you need to have is clarity of vision, clarity of objectives, and the how you will figure out that later. So what that meant to me is that we have got a safe psychological space to harness whatever is in your expertise or creativity to come up with solutions. mRNA can be used to solve a lot of the diseases that burden the continent and the world in general. So this is an extremely important time, both for Kigali, Rwanda, and for Africa as a continent. I'm really excited to be a part of the pioneers that make this happen, because it will... It's for the betterment of this continent. Be it from the training that we will have to do, the capacity building for this country and the continent, be it the products that we will manufacture in the plant, or the collaborations, the possible collaborations that are bound to happen because manufacturing, you can't do it alone. There are many unknowns, however, two things I definitely know, namely that science and technology will be the tailwind to reach the vision of equitable access. And the second thing is that it requires collaboration, which is based on relational interactions, and I'm very confident that we will find the right partners here. It is important that we consider this milestone, the opening of our site as one aspect of the overall project. What we want to accomplish here is to create something sustainable. Creating something sustainable is not just building a manufacturing facility, it's about using it in a way that accomplishes the goal, that we can develop vaccines, that we can manufacture vaccines, that we can do clinical trials, that we get new vaccines, for example, our Tuberculosis and Malaria vaccines, which are in development. I want to leave a legacy where I have actually solved a problem, no matter how small, within my community. It gives me purpose in my daily job, that the end goal is to actually save lives and save lives of these children or adults that live in areas where they do not have resources. So if we have the probability of developing a product that's eventually getting to our markets and be used by our people, that for me would be, already be a very big win. What I love is that BioNTech is consisting of people from more than 80 countries. Yeah. So we are a global team, and we feel the global responsibility. One word to describe this, incredible. One year's work shortened down into just a few minutes, and it shows us the fusion of teamwork, technology, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines BioNTech's quest for advancing healthcare solutions. To deliver the opening remarks, I would now like to invite Professor Uğur Şahin, Scientist, a trained Physician, Co-founder, and the CEO of BioNTech. Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, all protocols observed. I stand before you today with an immense gratitude and a profound sense of purpose as we gather together to celebrate this occasion, the inauguration of this site here in Kigali. I would like to express my sincere thanks to His Excellency, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, for the honor of sharing this milestone with you. Since my last visit for the groundbreaking, the transformation that has taken place at this site here is impressive. In June last year, we stood here on the red soil, side by side. It took a lot of imagination to envision what would be created here. A few words about BioNTech, courage, and vision. At BioNTech, we have a vision to develop disruptive innovations, resulting in medicines that address unmet medical need at an individual level. Our journey over the last years had not only introduced the mRNA technology as a novel drug platform, but also it opened avenues to rethink and enable global access to cutting-edge innovation. We are working along the entire research development chain, to make a difference for those who need the most. We do this in partnership with you and with others who share our vision of improving health and health equity. We want to contribute to build a sustainable, resilient vaccine ecosystem. The essence of our contribution here in Africa is clear: potential future vaccines need to be produced in Africa for Africa, addressing regional needs and global standards. This conviction is the driving force behind our first African mRNA vaccine factory. Today's inauguration event is an important milestone in this journey. You have seen the BioNTainers, a few words about them. The first two BioNTainers, the heart of this facility, have already arrived at its home. The second one will be ready for shipment from Europe in the next three months. The place shall become a state-of-the-art mRNA manufacturing site. I would like to express my gratitude to our amazing local and international partners, and the whole BioNTech team for their dedication and hard work, which made this possible. The BioNTainer facility is much more than physical buildings. It embodies the future of mRNA manufacturing, a future of digitalized, standardized, and adaptable mRNA production. The BioNTainers are designed as modular, high-tech manufacturing units that enable use of identical processes across the whole network, regardless whether the BioNTainer is located in Europe, in Australia, or in Africa. It means Africa will have one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the world. These BioNTainers will be able to manufacture any kind of mRNA vaccines. Their versatility allows making prophylactic infectious disease vaccines, as well as Therapeutic Cancer Vaccines. They can produce more than 50 million doses annually for regular public supply or during a pandemic, or they can be used to produce 10,000 of mRNA doses for clinical trials. So we are not yet there. There's a lot of work ahead of us, and we have a plan. In 2024, we plan to complete the construction here of all buildings on the site and initiate commissioning and the qualification process. We will work on regulatory processes, quality control, and most importantly, on the training of local personnel. We invest in building local capabilities and training of talents and young scientists, not only in manufacturing and digital sciences, but also in AI. We want to ensure that Africa benefits further from the coming wave of AI, including that algorithms are trained on locally relevant data sets and samples. Our goal is to ensure that these facilities operate according to global standards. In 2025, we expect to manufacture test batches for regulatory approval, which could become the first commercial batches of mRNA-based vaccines and manufactured and delivered in Africa. A few words about research and development. The BioNTech is one part of our contribution to an mRNA vaccine ecosystem. The other part is development of life-saving new medicines that are specifically tailored to the regional needs. BioNTech is actively engaged in the research and development of new vaccines and treatments against complex pathogens such as Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV, and Mpox. These pathogens account for a significant burden of disease and mortality in many parts of this continent. Our vaccines against Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Mpox are already in clinical trials, and first clinical trials in Africa are underway. We believe that our mRNA vaccine for Mpox has significant potential to directly impact the current Mpox outbreak in Africa, providing the chance for a timely response to this pressing health concern. How to develop these vaccines? We need local clinical trials. The development of these vaccines can only happen if we work in close partnership with local communities, researchers, and affected countries. High-quality clinical trials in multiple sites in Africa will be critical to define the safety and efficacy of these new vaccines. We highly welcome new vaccine research proposals by our African collaborators. To that end, we are delighted to be partnering with Senegal and Institut Pasteur de Dakar on a new research partnership to make mRNA vaccines for these diseases of local relevance. In working closely with all of you and the researchers and academic institutions, we want to contribute to the training of the next generation scientists here in Africa. It's clear to us that these potential future vaccines, among other life-saving medicines, need to be produced in Africa at the proper scale and at an affordable cost. We are often asked whether our initiative in Rwanda is only limited to Rwanda. Our answer is no. This initiative we embarked upon in Rwanda serves as a pioneering move in establishing local mRNA vaccine production capability on the African Ecosystem. It is a collaborative effort, with every partner sharing a deep sense of commitment to ensure a sustainable success. It can serve as a model for any other partnership in Africa and elsewhere. Upon success, we are committed to establish additional manufacturing facilities in accordance with the need of the continent and the countries. These facilities would likely be based also on BioNTech. They can be smaller for clinical development of vaccines, or they can be bigger compared to the one here in Kigali to provide additional commercial capacity on the continent. Thus, ensuring the success of the Rwandan facility will pave the way for fostering the African vaccine ecosystem in a holistic fashion, increasing health equity across Africa and beyond. The establishment of the mRNA manufacturing in Africa is a critical milestone, but its sustainability depends on collaborative approach across multiple sectors and multiple stakeholders. Much alike, a single stream that begins at top of a hill, our journey will gain strength and momentum as it merges with others, each contributing to a stronger and more powerful current. Rwanda is often referred to as the Land of Thousand Hills. It offers a unique opportunity to amplify this momentum by uniting diverse efforts and resources. However, to truly establish a resilient and enduring presence, we must work together to build the whole vaccine ecosystem. What are the elements? We might have blind spots, but what we see is we need to be able to build ties. We need to navigate regulation and approval. We need to ensure robust supply chains. We need to ensure effective public information, and we need to implement effective pharmacovigilance measures. Thus, your support is truly indispensable in a journey towards a healthier future in Africa. Let us reaffirm our vision, a healthier future for Africa, powered by advancements in science and vaccine technology, rooted in the principle of equitable access.... Together, with your continuous support and collaboration, we can turn this vision into reality. Thank you once again for your partnership in this transformative journey. Thank you so much, Professor Uğur Şahin, for your very insightful remarks and for also giving us a glimpse into the BioNTech. I now would like to invite Her Excellency, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, onto the stage to deliver her remarks. Dear President Kagame, dear Paul, President Sall, dear Macky, President Akufo-Addo, dear Nana, Prime Minister Mottley, dear Mia, Chairperson Faki, dear Moussa, Minister Baerbock, liebe Annalena, Minister Phaahla, lieber Uğur Şahin, liebe Özlem Türeci. Distinguished guests, the great African writer, Chinua Achebe, called it the power of togetherness. This cutting-edge facility would not have been possible without the shared experience and expertise that we each bring to the table. It is a story of teamwork between pioneering scientists and innovative businesses, between Africa and Europe, and between government, finance, and regulation. The story started decades ago. Back in the 1990s, two scientists began working on the new kind of technology. mRNA technology was so innovative that they had a difficult time finding money for their research. Now, fast-forward two decades, Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman win the Nobel Prize in Medicine 2023. Their discoveries on mRNA helped save millions of lives around the world, and this is also thanks to Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci. These two brilliant entrepreneurs and scientists founded BioNTech. Their company developed a vaccine against COVID-19 that was more than 90% effective. This was the big story during the pandemic. But that's not all. mRNA vaccines were produced in record time, faster than any other vaccine in history. However, ramping up global production capacities remained a huge challenge. Billions of people around the globe needed their doses, but only few plants were able to deliver. And I remember, dear President Kagame, our conversation in Paris, 2021. It was at the height of the pandemic. We agreed that Rwanda and Europe must work together, not only to bring vaccines to Africa, but to bring vaccine production and mRNA technology to Africa. So we got together with world-leading companies like BioNTech. Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci, your scientific excellence, your entrepreneurial spirit, and your social engagement put BioNTech in a starring role of this joint endeavor. We teamed up with Rwanda, with Senegal, with South Africa, and with Ghana, and we built, and we are building, the first vaccine manufacturing capacity, mRNA producing capacity, on the continent here in Kigali. To date, we have together already mobilized EUR 1.2 billion as Team Europe, and it is amazing to think that in just two years, these BioNTainers will be producing up to 50 million doses of vaccines per year. And we're not only speaking about battling the coronavirus, but it is about breaking new ground in the fight against, as you said, Uğur, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and potentially even cancer. This is the true power of togetherness and technology, and this is also the winning formula behind Global Gateway, Europe's global investment program. We are together mobilizing all our assets. Here in Rwanda, Global Gateway is strengthening the regulatory capacity. It's so important to create a conducive environment for producing pharmaceuticals. We're supporting the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority, and we are investing together in skills and training, mostly dual vocational training, so that local good jobs are created here in your pharma ecosystem. And of course, we are partnering on higher education, connecting Kigali University with counterparts in Europe that specialize on biotechnology. This experience is teaching all of us how we can better work together, also with the private sector, and the magic really lies in the public-private teamwork. Through public funding, training, and enabling regulation, we can provide the long-term predictability that private investors need to start ambitious projects like this one. It's the whole package that counts. According to these principles, we are also constructing with President Macky Sall, a second manufacturing site in Senegal. Team Europe has accompanied the Senegalese national strategy for relaunching the pharmaceutical industry. Vaccine production capacity is now within reach at the Pasteur Institute of Dakar. In Ghana, we support, dear President Akufo-Addo, your efforts to strengthen the capacities of the Food and Drugs Authority and the cooperation of the so-called DEK Vaccine Facility. And we are even expanding this initiative to Latin America and the Caribbean. Dear Prime Minister Mottley, I'm very glad that you have joined us here today. Many thanks for that. What's happening here in Rwanda can also happen in Barbados, and with the South-South cooperation, we're very keen to support this potential vaccine project in Barbados. We can be proud of how much we have achieved together, and of course, of how much we can still achieve. This is why today we will sign an agreement of an additional EUR 40 million to support Rwanda in its mission to become a center of medical and technological excellence, and to support the African Union, dear Moussa, to succeed in the goal that you've set yourself. I've never forgotten that you told me that today, Africa is producing 1% of the vaccines that are used in Africa, and that the common goal is that by 2040, you're producing 60% of the vaccines needed on the continent. I think we're getting much closer to that goal, which is a real good one, and we should join forces to achieve it. I will leave the final words to Chinua Achebe: "Let's smile, not because we don't have problems, but because we are stronger than the problems." Thank you so much. Powerful words. Thank you so much, Your Excellency, for taking us through the journey of how it all started and how we got here today, and also for showing us the power of collaboration. To deliver his remarks, we are delighted to welcome His Excellency, Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, to the stage. We are certainly stronger than the problems. Excellencies, heads of state and government, Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, Honorable Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, my sister, Excellency Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Professor Uğur Şahin, Professor Özlem Türeci, founders of BioNTech, Ministers Annalena Baerbock, representing the Chancellor of Germany, Minister Joe Phaahla, representing the President of South Africa, Minister Gervais Ndayishimiye, representing the President of Burundi, Dr. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. First of all, I want to welcome you, particularly the heads of state and government who have joined us, and the leaders of international institutions. Secondly, I want to thank you, beginning with BioNTech, especially Professor, Professor Uğur, Professor Özlem. We are very proud of the entire team from BioNTech, who have worked tirelessly to deliver this project. This facility is designed to be among the most advanced in the world. Most of the staff are from Africa, including the site Manager, an Engineer from Nigeria. The quality is exactly the same as you would find anywhere else. Vaccine inequity hit Africa hard during the pandemic. We found ourselves knocking on every door in search of doses. The situation was intolerable, and the African Union came together to make a firm commitment that we would not allow ourselves to be in that position ever again. That is how Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Ghana, came to be pilot countries for vaccine manufacturing. Others have also joined, and we have all made solid progress working together. Africa CDC has coordinated the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing, led by Dr. Jean Kaseya. The African Medicines Agency was created with its future headquarters here in Kigali. I commend the Chairperson, Moussa Faki, for his steadfast support and being a force behind all these efforts, as well as the African Union special envoys, who helped steer us through very uncertain times. You may remember that the consensus at first was that mRNA vaccines could not even be administered in Africa. It was said to be too complicated for our health systems. Then, when we embarked on this journey to manufacture these vaccines on our continent, we were told that it would take a minimum of 30 years. That was all wrong. It is possible, and because it is possible, it is also necessary. What BioNTech's partnership with Africa demonstrates is that vaccine technology can be democratized. But you could not have reached this point without a wider set of partnerships. The world mobilized quickly and effectively to support the African initiatives. President Ursula von der Leyen, I want to personally thank you for your personal involvement, but working together with other partners in the European Union, you became instrumental in initiating the collaboration with BioNTech. And the European Commission has provided crucial support to Rwanda to build our regulatory capacity, support skills and training, and fund research, as did the European Investment Bank. Many individual partner countries stepped up as well, but today, allow me to single out Germany, which immediately put in place an extensive cooperation program. The World Health Organization has supported Rwanda's regulator to work toward ML3 status in record time. The African Development Bank took the lead in establishing the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, which will also be based here in Kigali. We thank the African Development Bank. And the International Finance Corporation has been with us from the beginning, helping Rwanda to map out the long-term vision for our Pharmaceutical Ecosystem. I am pleased to announce that Rwanda is moving into a new phase of collaboration with IFC to ensure that BioNTech's investment is just the first of many. If time permitted, I would highlight many other contributions, such as those of Gavi, CEPI, and the Global Fund. The reason I wanted to mention all this is because the real success factor in today's milestone is trust and cooperation. And we will need more of that if we want to ensure that Africa is ready and resilient, no matter what happens in the future. The presence here of our sister, Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados, signals that the concern for health equity extends beyond our continent. Rwanda and Barbados have been advising and supporting each other closely on pharma manufacturing. We would like to see much deeper cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, especially with respect to pooled procurement, to make our industries sustainable. Adversity is often the starting point of great success. In the end, we all have something to offer each other. Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, once again, I welcome you and thank you all for sharing this day with us. Have a good day. Thank you so much, Your Excellency, for your remarks. As it has been highlighted, promoting vaccine equity for Africa is paramount, and the launch of this site, in particular, is a significant milestone. All this could not be achieved without visionary leadership. We are now going to be taken through a presentation on why Africa deserves this day. I'm going to welcome to the stage Professor Rose Leke, Professor of Immunology and Parasitology at the University of Yaoundé in Cameroon, and 2023 Virchow Prize for Global Health Laureate. Yes, a great day for Africa. Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Your Excellency, the First Lady of the Republic of Rwanda, Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Ghana, Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Senegal, Your Excellency, the Prime Minister of Barbados, Your Excellency, the President of the European Commission, Your Excellency, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Your Excellency, the President of the African Development Bank, Your Excellency, the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, Your Excellency, the Minister of Health of South Africa, the co-founder and CEO of BioNTech and team, all other dignitaries here present, ladies and gentlemen, all protocol observed, it's such a pleasure for me to be part of this here today. I first of all want to thank the organizers for inviting me to share my reflections on this great day for Africa. When we launched the manufacturing of mRNA vaccines in Kigali, in a dream come true for many of us. This is a new era for Africa, so let us all join together to welcome it with lots of cheers. Let me hear you welcome this era for Africa. Some 300 years ago, in 1721, about then, Onesimus, some of you must have heard about him, an African-born slave in Boston, introduced an age-old practice that became known as variolation. That saved Boston's population from a 17% to 2.4% fatality rate of the Smallpox, and that infected the population. This became known as vaccination when, in 1796, Edward Jenner in England observed that milkmaids were protected from smallpox because some of the cows had cowpox, a similar disease. In 1980, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox had been completely eradicated due to global vaccination efforts, making the disease the first and only infectious disease to have been entirely wiped out. The Indigenous Wild Poliovirus has also been wiped out from five of the WHO regions, including Africa, in 2020, again, due to global vaccination. With the coming of COVID-19, we observed how many African nations longed for the vaccine and could not access it before gaining herd immunity from the exposures that built their immunity. The situation spelled out the need for Africa to start to promote her own research and development and manufacturing of vaccines, such an agenda for Africa. Fast-forward to April 2021, when I was invited, and I did attend the virtual summit organized by Africa CDC to develop a roadmap for African vaccine manufacturing. There were four heads of state and over 40,000 persons in attendance, as recounted by the then Africa CDC director, Dr. John Nkengasong. I was remarkably impressed with the high-level attendance of experts in global vaccine manufacturing, encouraging the transfer of technology to our continent. And as a research scientist, I have lived through the notion of vaccines going from irradiated sporozoites, like candidates for Malaria, attenuated viruses like for Polio, recombinant proteins, and in those days, not once did we ponder the concept of molecular vaccines. The outcome of the virtual summit was the launch of the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing, PAVM, and the agreement that by 2040, Africa would manufacture at least 60% of its vaccines. I wondered how realistic this was, but felt really pleased about the aspiration and was looking forward towards starting to make progress. Mind you, there's been some vaccine production on the continent, such as yellow fever vaccine in Senegal and animal vaccines in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and my own country, Cameroon, and others. But a lot more needed to be done. Imagine then my absolute feeling of joy that just two and a half years after this summit, we would rise up so quickly to the highest technology of manufacturing mRNA vaccines on the continent. This is big. Yes, it is big. So let me first seize this opportunity to thank BioNTech, the government of Rwanda, Africa CDC, and all other partners who have contributed to this incredible outcome. Please join me in giving them a healthy round of applause. Africa's heavy dependence on international manufacturers for medicines, vaccines, and other medical supplies has rendered it challenging for governments to respond to health crisis effectively and rapidly. This is in spite of the 2001 Abuja Declaration, where it was agreed to mobilize more public resources and budget to the health sector. But by 2018, only two countries had met the health budget target from this declaration. In addition, COVID-19 showed us that tremendous innovation is possible in extremely short time frames, but it has also shown us the disastrous inequities that can result from a research and development and manufacturing agenda that is overweighted to the Global North. We all remember how difficult it was for us to procure test kits, PPEs, and vaccines during the crisis. While Africa's pharmaceutical sector is primed for rapid growth, the continent produces only 3% of global medicines and imports over 75% of its pharmaceutical needs. This gap materially undermines Africa's global health security, and shockingly, less than 1% of vaccines administered in Africa are produced on the continent, leaving millions without timely and affordable access to life-saving immunization. Despite this sobering reality, the world continues to observe a continent battling multiple health crisis, where local production of vaccines remains a dream for many. The COVID-19 pandemic sent a shocking wave to African leaders, scientists, policymakers, and more importantly, Africa's burgeoning population, which caused them to demand urgent attention to establish self-sustaining vaccine manufacturing. This demand propelled many African institutions, including the African Union, Africa CDC, countries like Rwanda, Ghana, Senegal, South Africa, and other research institutions, to take bold steps to offset Africa's heavy reliance on imported vaccines, which currently appears to be a major factor perpetuating unequal access and economic strain on African healthcare systems, paying billions of dollars to get life-saving vaccines, as well as the necessary materials to store, transport, and administer the vaccines. Efforts from these varied institutions and countries are admirable, as they showcase Africa's tremendous potential and drive to self-determination, steering local research and development towards addressing the continent's most pressing specific health needs. This investment in mRNA vaccine manufacturing is laudable, not only by its financial scale, but also the many opportunities it opens up for Rwanda and the continent at large. Extensions can be considered to developing routine vaccines, as well as the ability to repurpose the facility to respond to production of new vaccines in the wake of any future pandemics. This facility also serves as a springboard to the development of value-accretive partnerships that can combine the expertise and resources of local and international stakeholders to accelerate research and development. Finally, I hope that this successful launch serves as a motivation for other countries to take the mantle in developing their vaccine manufacturing value chain. The Africa CDC's Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing, PAVM, program aims to establish five vaccine research and manufacturing hubs across the continent over the next ten to fifteen years. Since the launch of PAVM, several countries have made remarkable progress in financing vaccine production and scaling up vaccine manufacturing capacity. Coupled with the African Union's African Medicines Agency, AMA, we can look forward to an Africa where regulation for pharmaceuticals is harmonized in order to build a diverse and distributed health R&D and manufacturing ecosystem across the continent. And when we combine this with the African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator, AVMA, program that the Gavi Board approved 10 days ago, I truly believe that the future of vaccine manufacturing in Africa is bright, and long may these initiatives last. Now, what does this mean for Africa? Africa has a population of 1.2 billion today, and we are most susceptible to infectious diseases, and as a result, the continent is a significant market for vaccines. It is estimated that by 2060, the African population would increase by further 65%. Our needs are growing, and there is now a strong political will to develop better healthcare outcomes for our population, not only in a few countries, but all across the continent, as represented here today. It is also important to note that Africa's reliance on imported vaccines leaves it susceptible to supply chain disruptions, and we did learn from COVAX that nationalism does occur in times of pandemics. Such diversified manufacturing in Africa would enhance pandemic preparedness and response. That's why now is the time. Furthermore, the economic and social impact upon the establishment of local vaccine production is not solely about healthcare, but also a catalyst for job creation, economic prosperity, innovation hubs, and social well-being across the continent. Africa boasts of abundant resources and a burgeoning workforce who need to remain healthy in order to deliver utmost productivity for our countries, and I am pleased to see the progress that the continent has made in recent years, enabled certainly by many of the leaders that are present here today. And what does it mean for our young research scientists? One of my students, who's now a researcher, Livio Esemoh, said to me ahead of this remarkable launch here in Kigali, and I quote, "I can now stay on the continent and do good science." What a powerful symbol this facility is to young scientists all over Africa. I have, during my career, trained and mentored hundreds of our young research scientists. They are smart, intelligent, hardworking, and daring, but they lack the resources to achieve the ambitious research and innovation goals. As a result, I have seen many of them leave the continent, and I'm glad to say, succeed at a global stage. However, such a facility will be yet another reason for them to stay or to return for those who have left, and contribute their intellect and talents to developing the healthcare ecosystem on the continent. The use of modern technology, like what we're seeing here today, can even be expanded to other areas of research and can be leveraged to create and fuel the virtuous cycle of innovation. And what it means to me as a research scientist, a global health advocate, a mother, and a grandmother, I must say that to see this day is more, more than fulfilling and heartwarming for me. It is a major milestone in research and development in Africa, acquiring the mRNA production technology, the most modern and up-to-date technology. I cannot end without talking about what this means for women, those who take care of the home and are primarily responsible for the upbringing and health of their children. When the word gets around that vaccine production is taking place on the continent, imagine the confidence it will bring to mothers and the population at large, who have been so confused with misinformation and disinformation about vaccines imported from Western countries... There is a need to educate women more. Maybe not needed as much in Rwanda, but certainly in many other parts of the continent. By showcasing that these vaccines are manufactured and developed locally, we can significantly reduce vaccine hesitancy across Africa and ensure that many more of our children and grandchildren are vaccinated. Finally, let me take this opportunity to make a plea to this audience today, a plea that has been boiling inside me all through my career as a research scientist. Most of our scientific research on the continent has been carried out on external funding, donor funding. My plea is for governments in Africa to prioritize research and development and innovation in their budgetary allocations and invest in this. Science and technology have moved the world forward, right to artificial intelligence today, and it's the outcome of research done outside our continent that has brought us here today. So please invest in research and give a chance to our young African scientists to showcase their capabilities and move our continent forward. This is my plea to all you leaders that are present here today. Now, to close, as a global health advocate and research scientist, I must emphasize that collaborative effort, true and respectful partnerships, innovative thinking, and directed advocacy has brought us to this far in the global health arena. These tenets will continue to be key for health promotion. Africa requires building win-win partnerships, leveraging resources to fund research and production, and the successful launch of this vaccine facility is testimony to that. So congratulations again to all this remarkable achievement for Rwanda and for Africa. I thank you very much. Thank you so much, Professor Leke, for taking us through this detailed presentation. Indeed, both steps are needed for us to be able to bridge the current gaps that we have. In pursuit of vaccine equity for Africa, it has been mentioned that collaboration is key. It involves all stakeholders coming together, aligning their efforts, and pooling resources to ensure that no one is left behind. With us here today, we are delighted to have special guests from different parts of the world who've joined us to share this special moment. To deliver his remarks, I would like to welcome His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, to come to the stage. Merci beaucoup. Thank you. Your Excellency, Mr. President Paul Kagame, my dear brother; Madam the First Lady, Jeannette Kagame; Excellency, President Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana; Excellency, the Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, my dear sister; Your Excellency, Madame Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Your Excellency, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, President of the African Union Commission; rather, Dr. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group; Professor Uğur Şahin, Mr. Türeci, BioNTech; Dr. Senait Fisseha, representing Buffett Foundation. Ladies and gentlemen, all protocols observed. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much, dear Paul, for your invitation and the always warm welcome extended to us here in Kigali. This ceremony is one of the best answers that Africa is giving to the present and to the future after the pandemic of the COVID-19, and this is a historic day for the continent. I salute your leadership, and I salute the brilliant partnership that was built after, well, following the outbreak of the COVID, which I will come back to before the end of my remarks, and what the African Union has done. Four years ago, the virus at the origin of this horrible disease created general panic, and it plunged the world into this high speed chase to pharmaceutical products, and worse had been predicted for Africa. Four years later, the continent is still here, standing and resilient. Better still, thanks to the partnership with our friends, we are more than ready for other challenges. My congratulations to President Kagame, to you, and to the BioNTech partners, and other financial partners, and I'll be coming back to that later. I reiterate that the production of vaccines in Africa was among the major points on our agenda during the sixth EU-AU Summit, February 2022. I salute the progress registered since then by the Global Gateway Initiative, and we reviewed that a few months back in Brussels. What is being done here in Kigali and in other African countries, pioneer countries, proves that with vision and political will, Africa is capable to achieve the best, including in the field of advanced technology and demanding technologies. With the same vision and the same political will, we must collaborate for the vaccines and other biotechnological products, produced in Africa are produced in Africa on the same standards. Dr. Saye reiterated, reiterated this. So it's imperative for these products produced in Africa are very well distributed. I call upon the European Union with the because of the COVAX, the COVAX initiative, Gavi and the other partners, NGOs, and so beyond production, to accompany the platforms for the commercialization of these products. In this spirit, Senegal is making efforts for vaccine sovereignty. So the Dakar Institute, which is celebrating its 127th year, it's an old institute, an old man, and it's producing a vaccine against yellow fever. And it's now finalizing in Diamniadio, a multi-dimensional vaccine pole installation. This is within the emerging Senegal agenda and the 2063 with the African Union, including mainly a full production chain, including mRNA to have that stored. There's also a center for bioproduction dedicated to reinforcing skills and in human resources that will be aimed to attract young people to biotechnology, which is an important hub for jobs. We will set up, and it's almost completed already, a research center on vaccines to from installation to production. The Institut Pasteur de Dakar will launch in January the African Resilience Center, resilience to epidemics. It will be welcoming practitioners, decision makers, to contribute to better preparedness for the continent. I thank the technical and financial partners. This is a day of gratitude as well. They've accompanied Senegal in that program through support to Institut Pasteur de Dakar. We'll also thank the World Health Organization, Africa CDC, the Universal Group from Belgium, the European Union, the African Investment Bank, Germany, we have their representative here, through KW, KW France, FDL, the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the United States of America through DFI, but also the Société Financière Internationale, Susan Thompson Buffett, Mastercard Foundation, Wellcome Open Society. All these people that come together around this initiative. I also renew my support to partnership in terms of biotechnology research between BioNTech and the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, especially through working on the against the yellow fever and other types of fever. And I know you're already determined to work on this, so I assure you, you have my government's support. And finally, I call upon, I call for active collaboration between national structures, regulatory agencies in pharmaceuticals, the private sector, the supply chain, and universities, research centers in Africa, to continue supporting the pharmaceutical industry on the continent to make our ambition for medical sovereignty real. Today's ceremony is a light of hope, among many others, that gradually on the continent, we will get there in spite of difficulties. But together, in solidarity, let's make this light of hope a fire that will illuminate our march towards pharmaceutical sovereignty in Africa. I thank you. Thank you so much, Your Excellency, for your remarks. We're now going to hear from His Excellency, Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana. His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, and Her Excellency, the First Lady, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Senegal, the Honorable Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Barbados, the President of the European Commission, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Foreign Affairs Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Minister for Health of the Republic of Germany, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana and members of the Ghanaian delegation, President of the African Development Bank, co-founders of BioNTech, the World Health Organization's Regional Director for Africa, Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, fellow Africans, ladies and gentlemen. I'm grateful to my senior and good friend, the redoubtable President of the Republic of Rwanda, His Excellency Paul Kagame, for the invitation to witness this happy occasion, the inauguration of the BioNTech manufacturing site in Kigali. Today is a reaffirmation of our commitment to the rest of the world that the construction of an end-to-end vaccine manufacturing facility involving Rwanda, Senegal, and my own country of Ghana, is truly underway. When we met in Marburg, in Germany, in June 2022, there were some who secretly doubted our collective resolve to bring this all-important project, which will boost Africa's capacity to be self-reliant in the production of vaccines, to fruition. I'm happy we have, with today's event, been able to confound these doubting Thomases. Ladies and gentlemen, the import of this Pan-African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative project is that we have had to work together, evidenced by the deepening of the ties of friendship between the Food and Drugs authorities of Ghana and Rwanda. Through this, FDA Ghana, which achieved WHO Global Benchmarking Maturity Level 3 in 2021, and Maturity Level 4 in pharmacovigilance and drug laboratory, also in 2021, was made a regional center of regulatory excellence for vaccine regulatory oversight by the African Union in August 2023. FDA Ghana will soon attain global benchmarking Maturity Level 4, and is assisting FDA Rwanda in its quest to attain WHO Maturity Level 3. Again, collaboration between our two countries resulted recently in a team from Rwanda visiting research institutions in Ghana with the aim of strengthening institutional development and partnership towards vaccine discovery and advancement. For us in Ghana, the Pan-African Vaccine Manufacturing Initiative project fits perfectly with our roadmap for domestic vaccine development and manufacturing. Ghana is playing her role to this end, and I assure you once again of our determination to make the project work successfully. Ghana's research institutions are undergoing capacity building to be ready for the discovery and development of vaccines and other biologicals... and a consortium of Ghanaian pharmaceutical companies, led by DEK Vaccines Limited, is working closely with BioNTech Rwanda, BioNTech Germany, and kENUP Foundation to fill, finish, and package the drug product in Ghana from the plant here in Rwanda. In October this year, at the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Ghana received some EUR 32 million from the European Union to help realize our goal of being a hub for vaccine manufacturing. I express great appreciation to the European Union, the African Union, BioNTech of Germany, Kenupp Foundation of Malta, the International Finance Corporation, the European Investment Bank, the African Development Bank, once again, for working closely together with African countries to enable the continent achieve vaccine self-sufficiency. I assure all and sundry that Ghana is delighted to be part of this Pan-African project to manufacture mRNA, COVID, malaria, and TB vaccines from drug substance through drug product to fill, finish, and package. May God bless Mother Africa, and that's all, and I thank you for your attention. Thank you so much, Your Excellency, for your remarks. I am now delighted to invite to the stage Honorable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, to come and deliver her remarks. Thank you very much. My dear brother, Your Excellency, President Kagame, and First Lady of Rwanda, Mrs. Kagame, President Macky Sall, my other dear brother from Senegal, and President Nana Akufo-Addo, my elder brother, who has guided me in my travails in Africa, my sister, President Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, my brother, President Moussa Faki, ministers of Germany, South Africa, and my own country, Barbados, and of course, the founders of BioNTech, without whom we would not have reason or cause to be here today. Professor Senait Fisseha, who is the moving rock behind the Susan Buffett Foundation, distinguished guests all. 60 years ago, on the fourth of October, His Excellency Emperor Haile Selassie, when addressing the United Nations General Assembly, delivered himself of remarks that have come to be popularized by Robert Nesta Marley. He asked us to recall that until there are no longer first-class or second-class citizens of the world, until the color of a man's skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes, until basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race. I wouldn't bother to use his echo that there will be war because there is too much war today in our world. But what I will say is that until such time, there will be a fleeting illusion for us, as he said, to be able to achieve the dream of lasting peace or world citizenship or the rule of international morality. We stand here today as a living example of the concrete steps that are being taken to remove the deficit that has existed between citizens who have been unable to access medicines that are available but not affordable, medicines that are there but not accessible. Today marks a concrete step for the people of Africa and its children and its diaspora to be able to turn the corner, not just in the fight against pandemics, which we have all learned is absolutely critical, but equally, simply in our desire to ensure that our people can have access to the best possible therapeutics and biologics that are available on this planet. I want to thank President Kagame in particular, because when you came to Barbados at the beginning of 2022, we started talks that really were built upon the Africa Medical Supplies Platform that was made available to the members of the Caribbean Community in the height of the pandemic. And why? Our orders were simply too small to matter. Our capacity to be able to access from ventilators right back through to therapeutics to basic PPE simply was not there, and very often, even when we paid, orders were withdrawn at the very last minute. I pray that no future prime minister or president should have to endure what we endured during the course of the pandemic. I'd like to thank all, because one year ago in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt, we were able to reach the point of setting ourselves on this journey, so that just as Africa develops its capacity, we in the Latin American Caribbean region should equally be seeking to develop our own capacity, and to ensure that as we work together, we work in a complementary fashion, so that together we can address the shortages that exist for the people of the South. This is going to require cooperation and financing, and that is why we thank the European Union and the Global Gateway for stepping up to the plate. It is going to require a transfer of technology, and that is why we thank the owners of BioNTech and all others who will come to the table in the future, recognizing that, as Chancellor Scholz has said, the days of simply the extractive industries being the hallmark of the Global South must be put behind us, and the question of value-added and transfer of technology for a just transition becomes completely critical if we are to see the world turn the corner with respect to the inequity that we have inherited. And of course, the global financing for the global public goods that are going to be necessary, particularly in those drugs that are needed to fight antimicrobial resistance. I co-chair the One Health global initiative, and we already know that it is responsible for the third largest number of deaths globally, and it is the silent, slow-motion pandemic that is seeking to become the biggest claim of human lives by the year 2050. If we don't put ourselves at the front line of fighting these battles, then our people shall be victims and shall pay the ultimate price. I want to thank the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority. One month ago in Barbados, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rwanda Food and Drug Authority, and your officials have been working with my officials in Barbados to build capacity. And indeed, we were able to receive and have launched our own white book, which will be at the core of our own development for our own agency within the Caribbean. The President of Guyana could not be here today, but he, too, as we exhibited last year in Sharm El-Sheikh, is also interested in ensuring that we can fill the gap with respect to pharmaceutical equity as we go forward in this very complex world. The notion that our citizens will not have access to drugs that can effectively treat them for cancer or autoimmune diseases is as much a driver for us as is the need for vaccine equity, and I therefore look forward to our being able to work in a cooperative fashion with all who are here, recognizing that if we don't make these steps at this point in time, we shall forever be takers rather than shapers of our civilization and rather than firm craftsmen of our fate. Dr. Adesina, I missed you in the opening remarks, but I thank you also for your continued support, because it is only in working together that we will create the markets that are sufficiently large to allow the investments to come to our parts of the world to ensure that that equity is there. This today, therefore, President Kagame, is the first concrete step to ensure that when His Excellency Emperor Haile Selassie spoke 60 years ago, he was not simply speaking in dreams of dreams, of a time that will never come. But that the notion that we can here today launch a concrete platform for the manufacturing of up to 50 million units of vaccines within two years is a significant step that says this is no more a fleeting illusion of a few, but that concrete step. I want to commend the people and government of Rwanda. I want to commend the people and government of Senegal, South Africa, and Ghana for also ensuring that you have acted in a cooperative way, because as we heard from the quotation from Chinua Achebe, it is only when we work together that we can overcome all of the problems that confront us. I look forward, therefore, to the Caribbean and Latin America being the next site globally that will play its role in ensuring pharmaceutical and vaccine equity to the people of the world, such that there can be no more first-class and second-class citizens. Thank you. Thank you so much, Honorable Mottley. We're now going to hear remarks from His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Your Excellency, Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda. Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal. Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana. Excellency Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. Honorable Ministers, Your Excellency Ursula von der Leyen, President of the EU Commission. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank. Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO African Regional Director. Dr. Jean Kaseya, Director-General of Africa CDC. Professor Dr. Uğur Şahin, Co-founder and CEO of BioNTech Group. Ladies and gentlemen, before beginning, President Kagame, allow me to express a personal feeling, and allow me also to do it in French. The history of peoples and nations is made of events, but also of symbols. As I came to this site, the first time at a groundbreaking ceremony, and this afternoon, as I came down these valleys, I remembered an image I saw of Rwanda 30 years ago. These hillsides were scattered with human lives, Rwandans who had been assassinated. Now, imagine three decades later, around these hills and valleys, achievements like this one. This is extraordinary. In addition, it's not just any achievement. This is a vaccine center to protect lives. This is a major symbol. I would like to tell my brothers and sisters, Rwandans, you should be proud of the road you've traveled. Dear President Kagame, I think that your vision, your determination, and your leadership have proved that everything is possible. Africa faces a lot of challenges, obviously, but the continent is capable, and this is an example that we can make giant strides. This is possible. This is a lesson to keep. This is a pride for the continent, ladies and gentlemen. And day for Africa. This facility that we inaugurating today is a concrete result emanating from strong political will, coupled with an efficient partnership. Let me take this opportunity to commend the government of Rwanda for its dedication. President Kagame, your leadership and the determination as an early advocate, together with your peers, have made this dream a reality for all of us. I also wish to recognize the presence of President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana. I also commend BioNTech for working closely with AU member states like Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Ghana, and others, and with Africa CDC, the AU Specialized Agency for Public Health Emergencies. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, the continent is committed to increase the accessibility and quality of needed vaccines and other medicines to be available to all, to all Africans. That is also the purpose of African Medicines Agency, AMA, which has its headquarters here in Kigali. In this sense, we believe this BioNTech facility and AMA will contribute to our collective vision of a self-reliant Africa. Creating a high-quality regulatory environment and ensuring vaccine independence is key to our future capacity to prepare, respond, and better recover from pandemics. This collaboration will not only ensure the safety and efficacy of African-made vaccines, but also goes with our vision for multilateral partners to procure and distribute African-made vaccine and medicines in order to address African public health priorities and ensure the markets for such products. And here, I want to thank Gavi for its recent $1 billion African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator Fund, which will undoubtedly further boost vaccine manufacturing on the continent. The World Health Organization, represented here by Dr. Moeti, the European Commission, represented by Ursula, dear friend, and Germany by Foreign Minister Baerbock, you have all been key partners. I want to reiterate the African Union's deep gratitude. Working together to promote vaccine equity for Africa remains a priority. Today's launch is also a testament to our vision enshrined in the Partnership for African Vaccine Manufacturing, set up in 2021 to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services across the continent. This resonates deeply with the spirit of Agenda 2063, where health isn't a privilege, but a fundamental human right. It echoes the dream of a healthy and unified Africa, trading not just goods, but knowledge, innovation, and healthcare solutions through the African Continental Free Trade Area. Together, let us continue our journey to ensure vaccine independence for Africa and increase access to safe medicine for all Africans as we build a resilient ecosystem and healthier future for our continent. I thank you. Thank you so much, Your Excellency, for your remarks. We're now going to hear from Honorable Annalena Baerbock, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Federal Republic of Germany. Mr. President, Dr. Kagame, Professor Şahin, Professor Türeci, Frau Präsidentin von der Leyen, dear Ursula. Professor Türeci, President von der Leyen, President Sall, President Mottley, President Akufo-Addo, Vorsitzender Faki. Dear Professor Rose Leke, Excellencies, colleagues. Lightspeed. That was the name of Professor Şahin's and Professor Türeci's 10-months project to develop an mRNA-based COVID vaccine. It has never been done before, but it worked. It was a remarkable achievement, as is the place we are in today. Producing vaccines in modular containers, setting up a production site in under two years' time. The pandemic brought to light the power of global innovation, but the pandemic also taught us another lesson, the lesson about the harm of inequity. Researchers from South Africa and Botswana, as some of you mentioned, were the first to analyze an important strain of the virus. But despite the research push during the pandemic being so global, the world didn't succeed in rolling out vaccines quickly and fairly to all people around our globe. We cannot undo past failures, but together we can learn and build a better future. And that's why today is such an important day also for us. As Professor Şahin mentioned, this is more than a production site, especially in these brutal global times. The BioNTech production site we are opening today will be the nucleus of Rwandan pharmaceutical sector and ecosystem. A sector in the future will supply the African medical market at affordable prices, that will employ scientists from Rwanda and other African countries, and it will make us all safer. As Team Europe, this is exactly the kind of partnership we are seeking under the Global Gateway initiative partnerships that build resilience, not dependence. Partnerships in which we learn from each other and with each other. Through Global Gateway, the EU and its member states, inspired by an African Union project, have committed to invest more than EUR 1.2 billion, half of the total coming from my country, Germany, to spur vaccine production in Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria. We are delivering on that commitment. I'm proud that Germany helped to create a sustainable business environment for BioNTech's investment here in Rwanda. With the best wishes of my chancellor from Germany, Olaf Scholz, we are also highlighting that through a partnership between the German Vaccine Authority and its Rwandan counterpart, which means that our FDA will be able to soon put African vaccines on the market, and by co-creating a new pharmaceutical masters program at Kigali University, where students started classes just last month to fight the pandemics of the future and study together. Project Lightspeed showed what is possible when we understand the urgency of our task. Today marks a milestone in applying that insight to our global partnerships. At a time when many are talking about deepening divisions in global politics, we are shown here today that it's not only a production site, but that in deepening divisions time, we are showing what African-European cooperation can achieve. We are showing that together, we are building a stronger global health system. That together, we can achieve to face global crises. Maybe not always at the speed of light, but that's what we are aiming for as politicians, like do you as scientists. Thank you very much. Thank you so much, Honorable Annalena, for your remarks. I am now delighted to invite to the stage Honorable Dr. Joe Phaahla, Minister of Health, Republic of South Africa. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Program Director. Excellency, the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Excellency President Paul Kagame, Excellencies, President of the Republic of Senegal, Excellency, the President of Republic of Ghana, Excellency, the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honorable Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs of Germany, His Excellency, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Honorable Moussa Faki Mahamat, honorable, the Excellency, the President of the European Commission, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the President of the African Development Bank, the founders and co-founders of BioNTech, ladies and gentlemen. Your Excellencies, I bring you warm regards from my president, the President of the Republic of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa. We bring heartfelt thanks to the government and the people of Rwanda for hosting this very important milestone. It is a privilege for us and an honor to be, to have been invited to this very august function, which is also to discuss the development of vaccines targeting, amongst others, Malaria, Tuberculosis, Mpox, and other diseases which are troubling our continent. As many of you would know, my president, President Ramaphosa, is very passionate about the matters which we are discussing here today, as he has been at the AU as a champion for COVID-19 pandemic. This is indeed a moment of great admiration and appreciation as we reflect on the remarkable progress that has been achieved since the breaking of ground for the construction of this BioNTech vaccine manufacturing plant here in Kigali. The strides achieved by the government and the people of Rwanda stand as a testament to the dedication and unity and collaborative efforts of scientists, researchers, health professionals, communities, partners, and political leaders. The advancement in Rwanda, such as establishing this mRNA vaccine production facility, the establishment of the Africa Biomanufacturing Institute, and the hosting of the African Medicines Agency, will not only transform healthcare in the Republic of Rwanda, but will have far-reaching positive impact in the continent as a whole, as a key player in the global landscape of medical innovation. Ladies and gentlemen, as already said by previous speakers, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a stark reminder of the interconnectedness of our societies and the urgency of developing robust strategies to address global health emergencies. Today, as I stand before you, in South Africa, we have the South Africa Consortium, made up of Afrigen, Biovac, and the South African Medical Research Council, and working together with the government of South Africa. We are also committed to supporting global efforts on the mRNA technology transfer program. South Africa is also making bold steps towards vaccine manufacturing. In February 2022, WHO launched the mRNA Vaccine Technology Transfer Hub in Cape Town, in South Africa. The objectives of the technology transfer hub is to build capacity and contribute to the global effort to increase local vaccine production capacity in the continent, which will put our continent on a path to self-determination. It will further enable vaccine and other drug substance capability, including production of raw material, which is lacking in the continent, and is the most cost-intensive and technically challenging step in our aspiration to produce medicines and vaccines. By engaging in the transfer of mRNA technology, we encourage open collaboration in the scientific community, propelling breakthroughs in medical research and innovation. This collaborative ethos can extend beyond the realm of vaccines, benefiting various fields of medicine and public health. In this regard, Afrigem, which is our production company, has entered into collaborative relationship with organizations such as the NIH, sorry. The partnership is significant as it provides mRNA hub with an opportunity to draw on expertise from leading scientists who played pivotal role in the development of the mRNA technology. Furthermore, we have made further advances in that our regulatory authority, the South African Health Product Regulatory Authority, has been awarded by the WHO Maturity Level 3 for vaccine production regulation, and this will take us a step closer in making sure that our regulatory authority can interplay with various other regulatory authorities in various parts of the world. Ladies and gentlemen, what we are celebrating here today is a contribution towards building the Africa we want, an African continent where health equity prevails over disparities. Let us envision a future where Africa is not just a consumer, but a contributor to global health solutions. A future where every nation, regardless of economic standing, has the means to protect the health and well-being of its people. Every individual, regardless of their geographic location or economic status, deserves access to the latest and most effective medical intervention. Enable countries in the African continent to produce vaccines is pivotal step in closing the gap in vaccine access and ensuring that indeed, no one is left behind. As I conclude, I wish to call on all of us to seize this moment, to act in solidarity, to champion science, and to ensure that the benefits of medical progress are shared by all of us. In all, an interconnected world, science knows no boundaries. I want to end by congratulating the government and the people of Rwanda on behalf of the people of South Africa, on the launch of this partnership with BioNTech, and we are very confident that it will contribute to achieving self-sufficiency and vaccine production to meet future continental needs for health security, not only for Rwanda, but for the entire continent. I thank you. Thank you so much, Honorable Minister, for your remarks. As we head towards the close of this session, we are now delighted to invite to the stage, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank. Your Excellency, my dear brother, President Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, and Her Excellency, First Lady, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame. Your Excellency, President Macky Sall, my dear brother, President of the Republic of Senegal. Your Excellency, President Nana Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana. Your Excellency, my dear sister, Prime Minister Mottley, of Barbados, and you do such a great job in connecting us to the Caribbeans. Thank you for all that you do on that. Your Excellency, Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission. Your Excellency, my dear brother, Moussa Faki, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. Honorable Annalena Baerbock, Federal Minister of the Republic of Foreign Affairs of Germany. Honorable Dr. Phaahla, Minister of Health, Representative President of South Africa, Mr. President Ramaphosa. Professor Dr. Uğur Şahin, co-founder and CEO of BioNTech. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. I wish to thank you, Your Excellency, President Kagame, for inviting all of us to this event today. It is an event that we will never miss. That is because it is the culmination of the power of vision, commitment, and resoluteness to secure the lives of Africans. It is a moment that inspires much hope for us. When COVID-19 hit, Africa suffered the most. A continent of 1.4 billion people was left exposed and vulnerable. Africa was at the bottom of the supply chains. Africa's needs were not prioritized. We all said, "Never again." Never again will the health of security needs of Africa be outsourced to the benevolence of others. And that is why the African Development Bank launched a $3 billion program to revamp the pharmaceutical industry in Africa. The bank also launched, as His Excellency President Paul Kagame said, the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, which His Excellency President Paul Kagame, and the former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, are co-chairs of its eminent advisory council. The foundation will support ecosystems and partnerships for pharmaceutical companies, such as BioNTech, to thrive in Africa, and BioNTech must thrive. I was there in Germany in 2021 during the G20 Compact with Africa in Berlin, with Chancellor Angela Merkel, when Professor Dr. Uğur Şahin announced that his company, BioNTech, had a solution for COVID-19, the mRNA technology. All eyes lit up in the room. There was so much enthusiasm. A solution had been found. Now, Africa needed it. Several heads of state and government signed up with BioNTech to provide them with access to the mRNA technology. Among them were Rwanda, Senegal, and Ghana. Today, we see the realization of this vision with the inauguration of the BioNTech world-class vaccines manufacturing facility right here today in Kigali. I therefore applaud you, President Kagame, for your foresight. I also applaud BioNTech for prioritizing the needs of Africa, with its revolutionary BioNTainer that will be used to manufacture at least 50 million vaccine doses for phase one. Thank you very much. BioNTech will also deploy the mRNA technology to tackle some of Africa's diseases, such as malaria and tuberculosis. What a bright day that will be for Africa. And since my dear sister, Mia Mottley, is here from the Caribbean, and because President Kagame knows that I like to sing, I thought I would close by singing Jimmy Cliff. I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in our way. Gone are the dark clouds that hold us down. It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day. It's gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day. Yes, we can see clearly now. It's gonna be a bright and bright sunshiny day for Africa. Never again will Africa be left behind. Thank you, President Paul Kagame. Thank you, BioNTech. Congratulations. Africa is proud of you, and thank you very much. Thank you so much, Dr. Adesina, for your remarks. From the remarks this afternoon, it is evident that Africa is building strong and taking bold steps. Your Excellencies, champions of innovation, the moment we have been waiting for is finally here. We are all going to witness history in the making. Behind these walls lies cutting-edge technology that meets the future of healthcare as it takes shape. We will all have a chance to physically go to the next room to get to witness what we have really been talking about this afternoon. But before we do that, we're going to have a reveal first on the screen. Distinguished guests, with excitement and anticipation, we are delighted to reveal unto you the BioNTech's. Ladies and gentlemen, this is history in the making, and we will all have a chance to go and witness it physically. But first, I would like to ask distinguished guests, Your Excellencies, if you could kindly make your way to the next room for the unveiling and ribbon cutting. I would also like to request the rest of us, if we could kindly remain seated. We will also have a chance to go to the next room and get to witness history. Thank you. I would also like to mention that we will be able to follow the proceedings here on the screen with everything that will be happening in the next room. Excellencies, today marks a pivotal moment in the realm of healthcare and scientific innovation. Your Excellencies, right in front of you is the incredible BioNTech. And we're now going to witness the official ribbon cutting and the unveiling of the BioNTech and the BioNTech site. Excellencies, as we all take our position, I would like to mention that we will be cutting the ribbons at the same time. We're going to have someone from the protocol who will be handing over what we'll be using, and history is going to be revealed today, this afternoon. As we get ready for the official ribbon cutting, I'd like everyone to join me in counting down from three all the way to one, so that we can all do this together. Let's all start the count: three, two, one. And Excellencies, kindly take a step forward and the official ribbon cutting and the unveiling of the BioNTech. This is a remarkable moment not only for Rwanda, but for Africa at large. Excellencies, kindly maintain your position. We are now going to take a group picture. If you could kindly maintain your position, we have all the photographers ready to capture these moments that will go down in history. Thank you so much. Thank you to our photographers. Excellencies, we now have a tour that will be taking place. We have sessions that have 3D BioNTech models, and we'll have scientists who will be telling us more about these models. So if you could kindly, we'll have protocol guiding us. We could go to the station and get to witness the emerging technology in healthcare.