Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley Announces Transatlantic Bridge Between the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa to Develop and Manufacture Pharmaceuticals for Global Public Health

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, November 08, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana H.E. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, and President of the Republic of Rwanda. H.E. Paul Kagame met in Sharm El-Sheikh on the sidelines of COP 27 to discuss the furthering of pharmaceutical equity for global public health with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The key recommendation emanating from the meeting is an inter-governmental South-South cooperation initiative aiming at the development and manufacturing of 60% of all essential, contemporary pharmaceuticals for the populations of Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa within their respective continents by 2040. Initially, it is intended for the cooperation to focus on next generation oncological drugs, preventive and therapeutic vaccines, as well as on modalities for women’s health. It is also stipulated that all manufacturing sites related to this endeavor will be in full compliance with the relevant stipulations of the COP21 Paris Agreement.

The leaders of the countries and organizations which have launched this initiative have emphasized that all interested countries in the Caribbean, Latin America and African region are invited to join.

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"Today is a truly historic moment as with a great sense of urgency and understanding, South-South Cooperation rose to the fore to address matters of global public health," Prime Minister Mottley said. Her Excellency added "I want to dearly thank President Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President Paul Kagame and President von der Leyen for recognizing the importance of this venture and congratulate all stakeholders who have been instrumental in developing this pharmaceutical transatlantic bridge between Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean."

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana said "I am honored to be a part of this groundbreaking initiative that is a testimony to true South-South cooperation. From the outset I congratulate my Colleague Honorable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados for stewarding this cause and to His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda for his role in advancing this partnership that would provide the opportunity for the peoples of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to have access to pharmaceuticals developed within their own regions."