Over 60 foreign envoys in Hyderabad to explore COVID vaccine hub, progress [details here]

The envoys are visiting the Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and Biological E for interaction with scientists on the Covid-19 vaccine progress. The visit of the foreign heads of missions in India to Hyderabad is being organised as part of the MEA's COVID-19 briefing initiative.

In a first, the Centre is flying more than 60 heads of foreign missions to Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech and Biological E the two biotech companies on Wednesday, December 9. This is done in view of growing global interest in vaccine development programme in India against coronavirus.

The Centre is flying more than 60 heads of foreign missions to Bharat Biotech and Biological E the two biotech companies that are working on a Covid-19 vaccine, people familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. — The Centre is flying more than 60 heads of foreign missions to Bharat Biotech and Biological E the two biotech companies that are working on a Covid-19 vaccine. Image: Twitter

Organised as part of MEA's COVID-19 briefing initiative: More about the visit

The visit of the foreign heads of missions in India to Hyderabad is being organised as part of the Ministry of External Affairs' COVID-19 briefing initiative that briefed over 190 heads of diplomatic missions and representatives of leading international organisations on COVID-19 related issues.

According to an official source, "There is a lot of interest in India's vaccine development efforts. More than 60 HoMs are being taken to leading biotech companies in, Hyderabad, Bharat Biotech and Biological E."

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Over 60 foreign envoys visit Hyderabad. Image: Twitter

"India is the world's largest vaccine manufacturer. As the Prime Minister said India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis," the source further added.

The visit would also include Biological E. Ltd's facility, where the firm is developing a vaccine in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, and U.S.-based Dynavax Technologies Corp, the source said.

India, with the world's second-highest tally of 9.7 million cases of the novel coronavirus, is reviewing applications from Pfizer Inc, AstraZeneca and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech for emergency use.