President Kagame Discusses Pharmaceutical Production Investments with Bayer and Minapharm CEOs

President Paul Kagame met with Stefan Oelrich, CEO of Bayer Pharmaceuticals, and Dr. Shaheer Bardissi, CEO of Minapharm Pharmaceuticals, to discuss advanced pharmaceutical production investments to expand access and quality in Africa., according to the Office of the President. On Friday, January 10, RDB Deputy CEO Juliana Muganza and Chief Investment Officer Michelle Umurungi also held discussions with Stefan Oelrich, Dr. Shaheer Bardissi, Co-CEO of Minapharm Pharmaceuticals, Holm Keller, Chairman of the Kenup Foundation, and other distinguished officials. These discussions focused on advanc

President Paul Kagame met with Stefan Oelrich, CEO of Bayer Pharmaceuticals, and Dr. Shaheer Bardissi, CEO of Minapharm Pharmaceuticals, to discuss advanced pharmaceutical production investments to expand access and quality in Africa., according to the Office of the President. On Friday, January 10, RDB Deputy CEO Juliana Muganza and Chief Investment Officer Michelle Umurungi also held discussions with Stefan Oelrich, Dr. Shaheer Bardissi, Co-CEO of Minapharm Pharmaceuticals, Holm Keller, Chairman of the Kenup Foundation, and other distinguished officials. These discussions focused on advancing pharmaceutical production and investments in Rwanda to enhance access and quality across the region. Rwanda aims to become a regional hub for vaccine production in Africa, seeking to reduce the continent's reliance on imported vaccines and enhance its capacity to respond to health challenges. This initiative is part of a broader effort to establish sustainable vaccine production and improve public health outcomes across Africa. In December 2023, BioNTech inaugurated its first African manufacturing site in Kigali. This facility is based on modular units called BioNTainers, designed to produce a range of mRNA-based vaccines. Once operational, the Kigali facility is expected to produce up to 50 million doses annually, including vaccines similar to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The facility is also designed to manufacture vaccines for diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV, pending successful development and regulatory approval. In May 2024, Rwanda's Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the African Development Fund, launched a $12 million project to enhance access to pharmaceuticals. This initiative aims to improve local production, strengthen regulatory frameworks, and build capacity within the pharmaceutical sector.