German manufacturer BioNTech has completed a key step in setting up its first vaccine production hub in Africa aiming to boost access to mRNA jabs on the continent. "We want to contribute to build a sustainable, resilient vaccine ecosystem" says Dr. Ugur Sahin, co-Founder and CEO of BioNTech during a conference on the project. The pharmaceutical company has set up a production unit in Rwanda's Kigali to make vaccines for protection against various diseases in Africa. The facility is made from recycled shipping containers and sits on 35,000 square metres of land. BioNTech said it expects to finish building the factory in 2024 and begin operations the following year. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES