Koh Jong Hwan, the Hanoi Representative of SK Group presented the donation to Minister of Heath Nguyen Thanh Long. — Photo courtesy of the firm
Koh Jong Hwan, the Hanoi Representative of SK Group on Friday handed over US$1 million to Viet Nam’s national COVID-19 vaccine fund in order to support Viet Nam in the procurement, research and development, and production of domestic vaccines.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Heath Nguyen Thanh Long, said: “The ministry has been in many discussions with vaccine suppliers in order to secure sufficient doses of COVID-19 vaccines for Viet Nam achieving community immunity in 2021. The financial support from the business community in general and SK Group are meaningful for the efforts. We warmly welcome SK’s investment plan into the pharmaceutical and healthcare markets in Viet Nam.”
Koh Jong Hwan said: “SK Group highly appreciate the efforts of the Government of Viet Nam, especially the MoH, in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in Viet Nam. With this contribution, SK Group would like to confirm our commitment to accompany the Government of Viet Nam and Vietnamese people to overcome this global challenge. SK Group wishes Viet Nam success in securing more vaccines and achieving herd immunity by the end of 2021.”
Ambassador Park Noh-wan expressed congratulations for SK’s US$1 million donation, and requested the Vietnamese Government to actively support SK’s investments in bio projects and co-operation in the healthcare sector.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Viet Nam, SK Group has been very attentive and proactive in responding to the local situation. In April 2019, SK Group donated 100 SARS-CoV-2 test kit sets with 10,000 SARS-CoV2 test kits, manufactured by a leading Korean company, tests to Ha Noi People’s Committee in order to support the city’s efforts in controlling the pandemic. The test kits were produced by Seegene Inc, a leading manufacturer of SARS-CoV-2 test kits in Korea, and have been confirmed by Vietnam National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to be highly sensitive and specific.
SK Group is the second-largest conglomerate in South Korea, with businesses in pharmaceuticals and healthcare, oil and gas, telecommunications, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, and other industries. The group has invested up to $2 billion in Viet Nam through the partnerships with top Vietnamese companies such as Vingroup, Masan, and Imexpharm. In addition, SK Group is now pursuing potential investment opportunities in pharmaceutical and healthcare sector in Viet Nam, with our wishes to make the country the leading bio and healthcare market in the region. — VNS