INDIA’S high commissioner to the UK, Gaitri Issar Kumar, on Monday (26) visited Wockhardt UK’s Wrexham manufacturing facility in north Wales.
A subsidiary of India-based pharmaceutical and biotech company Wockhardt Ltd, it has played a key role in the UK’s Covid-19 vaccination drive.
The company’s Wrexham manufacturing facility in north Wales has been contracted by the UK government to manufacture the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
The high commissioner’s visit was part of a tour of Indian-backed or supported businesses in the UK.
Kumar was given a tour of the state-of-the-art vaccine fill-finish facility which is reserved for manufacturing vaccines until August 2022.
“The United Kingdom’s vaccination programme has been a beacon for the world in many ways. It is a matter of great satisfaction that an India-UK collaboration in vaccine manufacture here in the UK has played a vital part in the roll out,” the high commissioner said.
“The contribution of Wockhardt at Wrexham is one of the best examples of the success and significant potential of India-UK partnerships in the healthcare sector,” she added.
Kumar was joined by India’s honorary consul for Wales, Raj Aggarwal OBE, RNR.
Wockhardt managing director and chief executive officer Dr Murtaza Khorakiwala, said, “We are honoured to have a visit from the high commissioner of India to recognise our India-UK collaboration and essential role in mitigating the global impact of Covid-19.”
The pandemic has posed a big challenge and it needed a combined effort to overcome it, said Dr Habil Khorakiwala, founder chairman of Wockhardt.
“We are proud to be an Indian-led company working in collaboration with the UK government with our innovative international operations in Wales. It is an honour to be recognised for our capability and commitment by the visit from the Indian high commissioner to the UK, Gaitri,” he added.
Kumar’s visit is the latest one in a series of high-profile attendances at the Wockhardt UK site.
Earlier, Prince Charles and the UK prime minister Boris Johnson have also visited Wockhardt UK to witness the fill finish production of the vaccines.
Damian Talbot
Nirmala Sitharaman speaks at the India-UK Investor Roundtable in London last Wednesday (9). On the panel were India’s department of economic affairs secretary Ajay Seth and Kotak Mahindra Bank founder Uday Kotak
Sitharaman with Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves
Sitharaman with Jonathan Reynolds 
Sitharaman with Reynolds, Alastair King, India’s high commissioner Vikram Doraiswami and other delegates