RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is seeking to localize the veterinary vaccine and drug industry as one of the key priorities of the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program according to the program’s general supervisor of the biotechnology initiative, who spoke to Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.
Mishal Al-Shathi explained during the Future of Veterinary Biotechnology conference that animal vaccines impact food security, given that 75 percent of animal diseases can be transmitted to humans; therefore, localizing the industry has become essential.
The general supervisor of the biotechnology initiative indicated that several agreements were signed on the sidelines of the conference with a number of pharmaceutical companies specializing in the veterinary field, to empower, develop, and localize their operations.
He added that the program, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, has also launched opportunities to localize the production of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines.
The conference also witnessed the launch of the Veterinary Biotech Park project, the first global city specializing in veterinary biotechnology.
