Covid-19 test kit manufacture eyed – The Manila Times - The Manila Times

The government is seeking for possible investors in the manufacture of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) testing kits, a top official from the Board of Investors (BOI) said.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary and Board of Investments managing head Ceferino Rodolfo in said in a virtual presser that the Philippines will talk to two South Korean companies for a possible investment on rapid test kit manufacturing.

“We (Department of Health, Food and Drug Administration, and Department of Science and Technology) will be in Korea to partly talk about FTA (free trade agreement) in Korea. And then second, to look into possible investors for test kits. We will also look for investors in general for manufacturing,” said Rodolfo.

“The Korean government and our commercial attache there has set up a meeting. There are two types of tests, the PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and the rapid test. It would be more difficult to attract [investors of] PCR even if we want to have a manufacturer here. It would be easier for the rapid test kits, we will talk to two companies,” he added.

Rodolfo said South Korea currently produces both PCR-based and rapid test kits. The rapid test kits manufactured in South Korea, however, are sold to other countries.

The DTI official said the Philippines could be a good manufacturing hub of Covid-19-related products.

Rodolfo said he is hopeful that the country would have an investor for rapid test kit manufacturing this year.

“If we are talking about rapid test kits, we might have an investor within this year, but we are not sure if it’s Korea. So far, sources [of rapid test kits] are Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and the United States,” he said.

The Philippines and South Korea are currently in talks for a possible FTA.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier said the FTA aims to enhance both parties’ market access for products and services. It is also seen to open more opportunities for investment and collaboration for research and development.

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