German biotechnology company BioNTech unveiled its new $150 million modular messenger RNA vaccine manufacturing facility made of a set of stacked shipping containers in Kigali on Monday — the company’s first on the African continent.
African leaders, among others, gathered for the ceremony to celebrate this unveiling as a step toward the continent’s goal of achieving pharmaceutical sovereignty.
“It means Africa will have one of the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the world,” said Uğur Şahin, the chief executive officer and co-founder of BioNTech, during the ceremony.