13/10/2025 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 13 October, the European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced a partnership with the German biotech company BioNTech to build a messenger RNA vaccine manufacturing plant in Kigali, Rwanda. The project will benefit from a €35 million grant from the Commission and a potential €60 million loan from the EIB. The facility will produce vaccines against malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and simian smallpox (mpox), subject to development and approval. Also supported by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI), the project is in line with the Global Gateway strategy and the African Union’s objective of producing 60% of the vaccines needed on the continent by 2040. (BD)