Agenda Item 3: The IAEA and the Covid-19 pandemic
International Atomic Energy Agency
Board of Governors’ Meetings (March 1-5, 2021)
Agenda Item 3: The IAEA and the Covid-19 pandemic
Statement by Sh. Jaideep Mazumdar, Ambassador & Permanent Representative
Madam Chair,
1. We associate ourselves with the Statement made by the distinguished Ambassador of Costa Rica on behalf of G-77 and China and would like to add the following remarks in our national capacity.
2. While expressing our solidarity with all Member States of the Agency who have been affected by the COVID-19 global pandemic, we commend the Director General and the Agency on delivering rapid and effective assistance to 127 countries and territories to address the pandemic. This has taken the form of supply of equipment and materials as well as in capacity building through webinars, educational videos, laboratory support, technical guidance and expert services.
3. The efforts by the Agency in ensuring that its activities continue to be carried out unimpeded, in spite of the current difficult situation, is worthy of appreciation.
4. We also wish to acknowledge the important role of Member States' national authorities and relevant national entities in ensuring the Agency's continued access to nuclear facilities, movement across borders and other facilitation provided in these difficult times. India continues to work closely with the IAEA in supporting its core functions and activities. During the course of the past year, we have on several occasions made exceptions to our COVID-related travel regulations solely for IAEA personnel.
4. India has acted with resolve during this unprecedented crisis. A series of public health measures and carefully calibrated lockdowns have produced a unique epidemiological profile, with consistently declining number of cases over last couple of months. India is the largest producer of vaccines in the world with about 60% of the global share. We have used these strengths not just to launch the world’s largest vaccination drive in our country but to deliver on Prime Minister’s promise at the UN General Assembly to make Indian manufactured vaccines affordable and accessible to all of humanity. India has supplied over 36 million doses of ‘Made-in-India’ vaccines to more than 35 countries around the world, including nearly 7 million doses as gift to 20 countries. In addition, India will supply 1.1 billion vaccine doses to a large number of countries under the WHO led COVAX facility. The first two countries in Africa to receive vaccines through the COVAX initiative have received vaccines from India. Further, India is donating 200,000 doses of Made-in-India COVID19 vaccines for UN Peace keepers.
6. Prime Minister Modi announced early on in the pandemic that no nation can hope to counter it alone and that it would require global cooperation to defeat the virus. It is for this reason that India has, from the beginning of the pandemic, shared our production capacity in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, therapeutics and experience with countries throughout the world inspite of the fact that our own needs are quite considerable.
7. We are faced with new and uncertain challenges even as we struggle with existing uncertainties. A time of crisis is also a time of opportunity – an opportunity for global cooperation and preparation for future challenges. India will continue to work with the international community, and the IAEA, to overcome the challenges posed by this global pandemic and emerge stronger and more resilient.
Thank You.
