National Veterinary Vaccine Co LLC (NVVCo), backed by Oman Food Investment Holding Company (Nitaj), has signed an agreement to set up a first-of-its-kind veterinary vaccine manufacturing plant at Sohar Freezone.
NVVCo, which is jointly promoted by Intaj (part of Oman Investment Authority) and the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID), has tapped leading consultancy firm STI Engineering to design and oversee the construction of the state-of-the-art animal vaccine production facility. NVVCo Chairman Ali al Shihhi, signed the agreement with Muatasim al Kindi, CEO – STI Engineering on Monday.
“This will be the first such facility in the Sultanate of Oman, a landmark initiative that underscores our commitment to advancing veterinary healthcare in the region,” said National Veterinary Vaccine Co in a post. “This act symbolizes our forward-thinking partnership that aims to positively impact animal health through pioneering vaccines,” it further stated.
Established in 2019 under the auspices of Nitaj’s well-diversified and vertically integrated food sector development company, National Veterinary Vaccine Co is a 50:50 partnership of Nitaj and AAAID, a pan-Arab financial institution that contributes to the capital of agribusiness ventures in the Arab region. The new project adds a biotechnology component to Nitaj’s expanding portfolio with a focus on the development and production of innovative vaccines for livestock and poultry populations in the Middle East and the wider world.
According to joint venture partner AAAID, the veterinary vaccine project will be implemented in two phases: Phase I targets the aseptic filling and production of 114.5 million doses of different vaccines over an expansion plan period of five years; and Phase II – the production of 144 million doses of different vaccines from year 5 onward.
Earlier this year, the National Veterinary Vaccine Co signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indovax Pvt Ltd, a leading Indian animal vaccine manufacturer, for the supply of raw materials for veterinary vaccines manufacturing in Oman.
As the first international-class animal vaccine manufacturing facility in the Sultanate of Oman, the project will provide new impetus to the growth of the country’s burgeoning poultry and livestock industry, which is backed by the government as part of its food security goals.
A sizable chunk of Nitaj’s investments in the domestic food industry so far has gone into the dairy, poultry and livestock segments – the health and well-being of which will be further safeguarded when indigenously produced veterinary vaccines become available widely and cost-competitively in Oman.
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