Cuban Ambassador to Malaysia, Florentino Batista Gonzalez believes that Cuba and Malaysia should forge deeper partnerships in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, particularly in producing vaccines, including halal vaccines that would cater to the local demographics.
He said that Cuba’s capital, Havana was also looking to Kuala Lumpur’s leadership as ASEAN chair next year to help the Latin American country use Malaysia as a launchpad to penetrate Southeast Asian markets especially for its medical products and services.
Being renowned for its cigars, Cuba has exported US$478 million in 2023 with brands such as Habanos, Cohiba, Partagas and Monte Cristo, fetching premium prices globally and had established diplomatic ties with Malaysia in 1975.
The ambassador noted that biotechnology and pharmaceuticals were two sectors with the most potential for greater collaboration, given the difficulties faced during the COVID-19 pandemic in getting vaccines quickly and the successful partnership and experience between both countries in producing halal vaccines for meningitis. In fact, Cuba has even produced five vaccines for COVID.
Gonzalez said Cuba could tap into Malaysia’s technological strength in both sectors following its efforts to product its own pharmaceutical products, such as vaccines – a move that will enable Kuala Lumpur not to rely on third parties.
“Malaysia has invested heavily over the last 10 years ago or so – probably more – in building the facilities, training people and also creating the curriculum in universities to achieve that goal (to produce vaccines), but it is still a goal to attain.
“On that note, we have already passed the peak of the curve and we think we can be of true help to Malaysia by reducing the cycles by offering ready-made products that can be taken to the last phase of registration and become a local intellectual property, by transferring technology,” he added.
Gonzalez said Malaysia has strong skillset competencies in biotechnology – not only via companies such as Bioeconomy Corporation but also in its universities – to produce medical products and engage in research and development (R&D) and to localise them.
Through R&D between Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and the Finlay Institute of Cuba, a halal vaccine to meningitis was successfully produced in the country.
“We also have a very successful product being used in Latin America and some countries in Europe that is in the process of registration in the US to treat late-stage diabetic wounds. This product is used to treat diabetes ulcers on the feet to prevent the amputation of patients who are on the fourth stage.
Diabetes is a growing problem in Malaysia and globally as well. (Hence,) the product can be used here and be fine-tuned into local and specific needs,” Gonzalez said.
He stressed that every country – including Malaysia – needs to find its own solutions in managing disease outbreaks and pandemics, to which Cuba stands ready to help in that regard.
“That is the kind of capacity what we need to build, more so with the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicting that it’s a matter of time before the world could be facing a new pandemic.
“As such, the most important thing is how you build and approach these new challenges,” he added.
Moreover, with Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship, Cuba could also benefit by gaining access to export to other regional markets, as the needs of medical, pharmaceutical and medical devices of each country is different.
By cooperating with Malaysia in these areas, Gonzalez believes that it would be a validation of sorts for Cuba to penetrate other regional markets as well.
“In other words, if Cuba can attain a level of mutual homologation in Malaysia, it would be a good starting point in pursuing and expediting the entire process of registration of vaccines and products as well as commercialization in all the ASEAN countries going forward.
“Malaysia possess the kind of leadership and capacity in negotiating ‘these kinds of multilateral things’ and therefore can be a partner to work with – not only with Cuba, but the rest of the Latin American countries in accessing the ASEAN market,” Gonzalez said.
He also mentioned that bilateral trade was currently small, with Cuba importing rubber, palm oil, electrical and electronic (E&E) items, as well as other minor technological products.
“That’s one of the biggest challenges in bilateral relations, which is turning the goodwill between both countries into a sustainable and long-term economic relationship,” he added.
