South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has made a commitment that he will work with other African leaders to ensure that the orders placed by Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean nations through the AMSP are expedited.

It comes after Ramaphosa and Prime MinisterDr Keith Rowley, who alse serves as Chairman of CARICOM, met via teleconference with for vaccine talks on Thursday.

“President Ramaphosa is the African Union Champion for COVID-19 vaccine strategy and acquisition. He is also the Chairman of the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) the funding mechanism through which vaccines will be made available for purchase from the African Medical Supplies Platform (AMSP),” a statement from OPM read on Thursday.

Trinidad and Tobago has entered into an agreement with and already made a payment to AVAT for vaccines.

South Africa is home to the Aspen Pharma pharmaceutical manufacturing plant which is expected to play a critical role in producing vaccines.