Agreements were signed on Wednesday for the establishment of one of the region’s largest Veterinary Vaccine and Serum Production plant at Sohar Freezone in the Sultanate of Oman.
The project is being developed by National Veterinary Vaccines Co LLC, a subsidiary of Oman Food Investment Holding Company – the Omani government’s food security development arm.
The signing ceremony was held under the auspices of Dr Ahmed bin Nasser al Bakri, Agriculture Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, in the presence of the Egyptian Ambassador and other dignitaries.
The first pact was signed by National Veterinary Vaccines with the Cairo-based Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute covering the scientific cooperation in the field of vaccines, vaccines and serum preparations, and technical support. Prof (Dr) Mohammed Suleiman Mohammed, President of the Agricultural Research Centre, which is the parent organization of the Institute, inked the agreement on behalf of the Egyptian party. Signing on behalf of National Veterinary Vaccines was its Chairman, Eng Yaqoub bin Mansour Al Raqhishi
Sohar Freezone also signed a usufruct agreement with the vaccine promoter for the establishment of a veterinary vaccine and serum production plant at the free zone. It was inked by Omar bin Mahmoud al Mahrizi, CEO of Sohar Freezone.
The project will be implemented in two phases: Phase I targets the aseptic filling and production of 114.5 million doses of different vaccines over an expansion plan period of five years; Phase II: production of 144 million doses of different vaccines from Year 5 onward. Total investment is estimated at RO 30 million in both phases.
National Veterinary Vaccines Co was established in Q3 2020 to provide livestock serums, veterinary medicines and vaccines to prevent diseases and epidemics that are affecting animal husbandry. It will also support bio-security programmes given the country’s large-scale investment in animal and livestock farming projects. (With inputs from ONA)
