Ethiopia launched its bid to be a player in the global vaccines market last week when its health minister Lia Tadesse laid the foundation stone for a $70m vaccine factory at the brand new Kilinto Industrial Park in Addis Ababa.

She said on X the plant would be producing vaccines by the end of 2026.

It’s being built for ShieldVax, a state owned company set up by the government last July.

Ethiopia has prioritised developing local vaccine capacity since the covid pandemic.

The Kilinto Industrial Park specialises in pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.

It was completed in August last year by China Railway No.4 Engineering Group, and is one of a string of new industrial parks and free trade zones across the country.