Indonesia teams with China's Sinovac for COVID vaccine

Pandemic underscores need for national self-reliance in drug R&D and production

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The world's fourth-most populous country is seeking to be self-reliant in pharmaceuticals. © Reuters

ERWIDA MAULIA and ISMI DAMAYANTI, Nikkei staff writers

JAKARTA -- The coronavirus pandemic has energized Indonesia's drive for self-reliance in pharmaceuticals, with state-owned Bio Farma collaborating on a vaccine with China's Sinovac Biotech and a company from the United Arab Emirates.

The state-owned Indonesian company considers the tie-ups as important for future development and production of vaccines -- and even new medicines -- in the world's fourth-most populous country.

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