Rwanda to Host Africa Headquarters of International Vaccine Institute

The Rwandan government has officially approved the agreement to host the Africa headquarters of the International Vaccine Institute (IVI). This was announced in Presidential Decree No. 091/01 on December 26, 2024, and published in the Official Gazette on December 27, 2024.

In June 2024, Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, and Dr. Jerome H. Kim, Director General of IVI, signed an agreement to establish IVI’s Africa branch in Rwanda. This agreement is aimed at boosting Africa’s vaccine production and distribution capacity.

On November 25, 2024, the government and IVI signed another agreement confirming the headquarters’ location in Rwanda. The agreement includes 21 provisions, including tax exemptions for IVI’s equipment, vehicles, and machinery. However, items sold to businesses or individuals will still be taxed.

The agreement highlights the importance of building local pharmaceutical manufacturing. It also aims to strengthen Africa’s health independence and improve the well-being of its people.

The IVI Africa Regional Office will play a crucial role in advancing vaccine research and technology in Rwanda and across Africa.

This comes as Rwanda builds a BioNTech factory to produce vaccines locally.

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, IVI is a non-profit organization. It advocates for global vaccine access and works with governments, research institutions, and the pharmaceutical industry to make vaccines available to all.

With this new headquarters, Rwanda will be a key player in advancing vaccine development across Africa.