On 8 December 2021, H.E. Mr. Paisan Rupanichkij, Ambassador of Thailand to Cuba with residence in Mexico City met with Cuba’s vaccine research centers and phamaceutical companies, namely Biocubafarma, Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and Finlay Institute of Vaccines to discuss cooperation between Thailand and Cuba.

The Ambassador was briefed about the CIM, which has formed a joint venture with Siam Bioscience Co. Ltd. in establishing Abinis Co. Ltd. to develop and produce biophamaceutical medicine for treament of patients with diseases such as lymphoma, kidney and autoimmune disesases in Thailand. Currently the CIM has expanded cooperation with more than 100 countries around the world.

The representative from the CIGB informed that the CIGB is considering a joint venture with a Thai phamaceutical company to import vaccines against hepatitis B from Cuba.

The Ambassador took this opportunity to inform about the COVID-19 situation in Thailand and the government measures to prevent the COVID-19 outbreak. He also briefed on the Thai government’s promotion of the Bio, Circular, and Green (BCG) Economy Model and invited Cuba to consider cooperating with Thailand on various areas under BCG, especially health and medicine.

In this connection, the representative from Biocubafarma expressed interest in exploring a possible cooperation on research and development focusing on COVID-19 related issues, as well as the provision of scholarships to promote joint research between the two countries.

Cuba has already developed 5 types of COVID-19 vaccines (1) Soberana 01 (2) Soberana 02 (3) Soberana Plus (4) Mambisa and (5) Abdala. However, so far 3 vaccines have been approved by Cuba’s public health agency for emergency use, namely Abdala (produced by the CIGB) and Sobernano 02 and Soberana Plus (produced by the Finlay Institute of Vaccines).

Cuba has been vaccinating its population with these vaccines since May 2021, and until now about 80 percent of the population have been vaccinated. Cuba has also exported these vaccines to some countries such as Vietnam, Venezuelan, and Nicaragua.