COVID: VACCINE COOPERATION TO BE FOCUS OF JAISHANKAR’S 5-DAY U.S. VISIT

NEW DELHI: Procurement of coronavirus vaccines and raw materials to boost domestic production is set to be a major focus area of external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s five-day visit to the United States beginning Monday. Announcing the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said Jaishankar will hold discussions with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and meet other senior officials of the Biden administration during his visit from May 24 to 28.

It will be the first visit by a senior Indian minister to the US after President Joe Biden assumed office in January.

It is learnt that Jaishankar is likely to press for further speeding up of the supply of raw materials from the US to boost vaccine production in India besides exploring the option of joint production.

There is a view in India that the Defence Production Act of the US has put some restrictions on the export of raw materials by American companies. In early February, the US government invoked the DPA to limit exports of the raw materials to expand domestic vaccine production.

“In Washington DC, the External Affairs Minister will hold discussions with his counterpart Secretary of State Antony Blinken. He will also be meeting Cabinet members and Senior Officials of the Administration dealing with the bilateral relationship,” the MEA said in a statement.