TOKYO – Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday that his country will provide an additional US$70 million to an international framework to help developing countries secure new coronavirus vaccines.
Motegi made the commitment in a video message during a virtual meeting of Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, a global collaboration to accelerate development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments and vaccines.
The said amount is an addition to the US$130 million Japan promised last October, and part of its pledged contribution of US$300 million to the Gavi international vaccine alliance.
“The immediate challenge facing the ACT-Accelerator is to meet its financial needs. Therefore on this occasion, I would like to announce that Japan will increase its commitment and contribute US$200 million in total to the COVAX Advance Martket Commitment,” Motegi said.
He assured that Japan remains fully committed to tackling and overcoming the pandemic “hand-in-hand” with the international community. - Florenda Corpuz
