COVID-19: AFREXIM Bank To Begin Deployment Of $2bn Vaccine Procurement Facility For Africa

The African Export-Import Bank will soon begin the deployment of the $2bn Vaccine Procurement facility approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors towards assisting the African continent.

The facility is expected to enable the continent rid itself of the Coronavirus pandemic and rebuild its economy.

The President of AFREXIM Bank, Prof Benedict Orama said the financing will support Intra-African Trade.

He added that already, the bank had commenced engagement with its financial partners to secure the additional funding that would support procurement if Africa decides to procure additional 180 million doses.”

This is just as In a historic COVID-19 all African Union Member States, through the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust set up in November 2020 under the African Union chairmanship of President Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa, will have access to 220 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, with the potential to order an additional 180 million doses.

Most of the supplies will be produced at the giant pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in South Africa operated by Aspen Pharma.

The vaccines will be made available to African countries through the African Medical Supplies Platform, over a period of 18 months.

The transaction was made possible through the $2bn facility approved by the African Export-Import Bank.

The bank also acted as Financial and Transaction Advisers, Guarantors, Installment Payment Advisers and Payment Agents.

A statement from the bank stated that the successful conclusion of the Agreement was made possible by the support of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, who supported the negotiation process with Johnson & Johnson.

UNICEF is also acting as procurement and logistics agent.

The African Vaccine Acquisition Task Team was supported in terms of advice on various aspects by the World Health Organization.

The statement said prior to the conclusion of the Agreement with Johnson & Johnson, African Member States were asked to make pre-orders for the vaccines, adding that many countries showed strong preference for this particular vaccine.

The countries will be able to purchase the vaccines either using cash, or a facility from Afreximbank. Most countries have already completed their pre-orders.

It stated that the direct acquisition of vaccines by the African countries through the AVATT initiative is part of the continental objective to achieve a minimum of 60 per cent immunization of the African population, in order to eliminate COVID-19.

This is in line with targets set in other regions such as Europe and the United States.

Ranaphosa welcomed the agreement, which he personally initiated directly with the company, during his tenure as Chair of the African Union.

“This Agreement is a significant milestone in protecting the health of all Africans.

“It is also a powerful demonstration of African unity and of what we can achieve through partnership between the state sector, the private sector and international institutions that puts people first,” said President Ramaphosa.

Oramah said that Afreximbank is proud to be associated with this historic and collective effort.

He added, “In the midst of a very tight COVID-19 vaccine market, we are highly honoured to have been given the opportunity by the African Union to facilitate this impactful transaction under the auspices of the Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team.

“Acting as Financial and Transaction Advisors, Guarantors, Installment Payment Facility Arrangers and Payment Agents, we look forward to beginning the deployment of the $2bn Vaccine Procurement facility approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors towards assisting the continent to begin to rid itself of the pandemic and rebuild its economy.

“This financing will support Intra-African Trade and we have already commenced engagement with our financial partners to secure the additional funding that would support procurement if Africa decides to procure the additional 180 million doses.”

Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said, “The Africa CDC recommended to the African Union that a minimum of 750 million Africans (60 per cent) must be immunized if we are to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“This transaction enables Africa to meet almost 50 per cent of that target. The key to this particular vaccine is that it is a single-shot vaccine which makes it easier to roll out quickly and effectively, thus saving lives.

Mr. Strive Masiyiwa, African Union Special Envoy signed for AVAT, while Mr. Jaak Peeters, Johnson & Johnson Special Envoy for COVID-19 vaccine, signed on behalf of Johnson & Johnson.