BELGRADE (Serbia), March 25 (SeeNews) – The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Thursday it has signed an agreement with Serbian vaccines institute Torlak to produce the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in Serbia.
Production of Sputnik V is due to start by May 2021 at facilities of Torlak Institute and the vaccine could be exported to other countries in Southern Europe at a later stage, RDIF said in a statement.
"Serbia was among the first countries in the world to approve Sputnik V and use it to protect the population against coronavirus. Production of the Russian vaccine by Torlak Institute provides for easier logistics and will also help to speed up the vaccination programme in the country," RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said.
The first batch of Sputnik V was delivered to Serbia on December 30 and vaccination against coronavirus with the Russian vaccine started in the country on January 6.
"The production of the Sputnik V vaccine at the Torlak Institute will strengthen the capacities of our country to fight against the coronavirus pandemic and open new perspectives for the distribution of this vaccine in the region of Southern Europe," Nenad Popovic, Serbia's minister without portfolio in charge of innovation, said.
Torlak Institute is Serbia’s national vaccine producer supplying healthcare institutions in the country with vaccines for the compulsory immunisation program.
RDIF, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, was established in 2011 to make equity co-investments, primarily in Russia, alongside international financial and strategic investors.