Jakarta (Indonesia Window) - Two Indonesian companies, Kimia Farma and Indo Farma, have agreed to collaborate with G42 Health Care AI Holding Rsc Ltd. of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in the development of the COVID-19 vaccine and technology to detect the novel coronavirus infections.

Witnessed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir, the agreement was signed by the three companies in the UAE’s capital city of Abu Dhabi on Saturday (Aug 22).

At a virtual press conference from Abu Dhabi, the foreign minister said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Kimia Farma and G42 concerns about the development of pharmaceutical products, health services, research, development and clinical tests of vaccine, as well as product marketing and distribution.

Meanwhile, the MoU between Indo Farma and G42 on health cooperation includes research, development, production and distribution of laser-based technology and artificial intelligence to detect COVID-19 infections.

The technology is considered to be able to help accelerate efforts to track people with the coronavirus and support safe economic activities.

In addition to signing the cooperation document, the foreign minister together with the SOEs minister and G42 also held a meeting to discuss strategic cooperation for the long term.

"For example, joint research using artificial intelligence is not only for detecting the COVID-19, but also for other diseases,” Retno said, adding that the two sides also set up cooperation on the distribution of Indonesian pharmaceutical products in the Middle Eastern and African markets, and those in other regions.

G42 will proceed the discussion, and visit Indonesia as soon as possible.

Reporting by Indonesia Window