Turkiye To Launch ‘Turkovac’ Covid-19 Vaccine In M’sia In Attempt To Upgrade Commercial Ties

By Lara Kramer  •  08 Jul 2022 in News

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If you thought the world had reached its peak in vaccine development, Turkiye is here to prove you wrong.

According to FMT, Turkiye intends to elevate its relationship with Malaysia to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership. The aim behind this gesture is to potentially enhance economic and trade collaborations, which include vaccine development.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that one of the nation’s plans at the moment is to release its domestically sourced vaccine, Turkovac, in Malaysia, having made its mark as the ninth country to prove its ability to produce its very own Covid-19 vaccine.

“We would like to distribute vaccine innovation and conduct vaccine development research together,” he said at a press briefing held in the capital city, Istanbul.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was also present at the conference, where the representatives addressed bilateral ties in sectors such as economic growth, financing, commerce, defence, tech and wellness as well as communication throughout their conference at the Presidential Complex.

“On this occasion, we reaffirm our dedication to move forth with our collaborative efforts, which is growing in strength day by day.

“By the prime minister’s recommendation, we have come to the unanimous decision to uplift our diplomatic cooperation, from a strategic alliance to a comprehensive strategic partnership,” he said.

Erdogan asserted that Malaysia-Turkey alliances have surpassed an unprecedented level, with the volume of trade outpacing US$3.5 billion, effectively making Malaysia the nation’s leading commercial stakeholder in Southeast Asia.

Amidst the Covid-19 global epidemic, trade volume expanded by 50% compared to the year before, and statistics for the first six months of 2022 demonstrated an even further uptick in alignment with the objective of obtaining US$5 billion by 2024.

The president also announced that broadening the trade agreement to incorporate facilities, investment opportunities, and e-commerce would help solidify commercial and financial ties between the two countries, whilst enhancing the synergy of product and service transactions.

The allied leaders also debated the potential for new collaboration concepts and initiatives in areas such as food safety, power generation, and the environment.

“I’d like to highlight that we have always felt Malaysia’s support on our side,” said Erdogan.

The president and PM Ismail Sabri also talked about the Rohingya and Islamophobia matters, adding that both nations would boost their affiliations through channels such as the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and The D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation.

As of now, it is unclear when the release of the new vaccine will be officially introduced to local grounds. Age, health and travel guidelines have also yet to be disclosed.

What do you think? Will you be giving it a shot?