French President Emmanuel Macron has called for easing the supply of raw materials for the production of coronavirus vaccines to India. Macron said that such a step was absolutely necessary to ramp up manufacturing for their own requirement as well to help the African region.
"India, and in particular the Serum Institute of India, has been blocked in its production by export restrictions on the ingredients needed to produce these vaccines from certain G7 economies," the French president said.
Macron's appeal came ahead of a crucial G7 summit.
The French president also favoured a proposal by India and South Africa at the World Trade Organisation for a temporary lift on the patents on Covid-19 vaccines and said France will raise the issue at the G7 summit.