New Delhi (NVI): India provided medical supplies and equipment to more than 150 nations during the COVID-19 pandemic, many of them as grants, to deal with the serious issues confronting the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said.
“Even as Indian began mass vaccination at home, supply of Indian vaccine to our immediate neighbours also started,” he said on Wednesday, while addressing the 14th Annual Conference of Institute for National Security Studies, Israel.
He added, “This is expected to cover other partner countries in the coming days. The world can only benefit from a more collective effort to deal with the serious issues confronting us.”
Jaishankar said that combating pandemics will naturally dominate the global agenda in the coming days, adding that, “As a country that provided during this pandemic medical supplies and equipment to more than 150 nations, many of them as grants, India supports greater coordination among responders.”
In line with this, India today delivered consignments of Covishield vaccines to Bahrain and Sri Lanka in the COVID-19 battle as part of the donation program to its key partners and neighbouring countries.
EAM Jaishankar tweeted, “A dependable partner, a reliable friend. Made in India vaccines reach Sri Lanka now.”
A dependable partner, a reliable friend. Made in India vaccines reach Sri Lanka now.#VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/7lUEqUPbNs
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 28, 2021
“Bahrain receives Made-in-India vaccines. A testimony to our long-standing fraternal ties,” he said in another tweet.
Bahrain receives Made-in-India vaccines. A testimony to our long-standing fraternal ties.#VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/3skHAy7woH
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 28, 2021
After receiving the vaccine consignment, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India.
Received 500,000 #COVIDー19 vaccines provided by #peopleofindia at #BIA today(28).
Thank you! PM Shri @narendramodi & #peopleofindia for the generosity shown towards #PeopleofSriLanka at this time in need. pic.twitter.com/yniKBWNeWC— Gotabaya Rajapaksa (@GotabayaR) January 28, 2021
“Received 500,000 #COVIDー19 vaccines provided by #peopleofindia at #BIA today(28). Thank you! PM Shri @narendramodi & #peopleofindia for the generosity shown towards #PeopleofSriLanka at this time in need.” he wrote on twitter.
India has supplied COVID-19 vaccines to Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Seychelles – all key partners and neighbouring countries to which India had promised supplies.
On January 20, the country began supplying hundreds of thousands of doses of Covishield vaccine for free under grant assistance to key neighbours.
-CHK