TSMC, Foxconn reportedly teaming up for BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines

Taiwanese companies, TSMC and Foxconn, are said to be signing a partnership deal for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines from BioNTech SE, a German biotechnology company. The two are said to be close to completing the contract signing process so that Taiwan could have access to the said brand of vaccine.

As per CNBC, the Taiwanese government tried to purchase COVID-19 vaccines from BioNTech for months but had no success in sealing a contract. The country blamed Beijing for dissolving the deal that Taiwan and the German company were supposed to sign earlier this year.

Leading companies to provide assistance to secure the jabs

The slow pace of vaccination in Taiwan has been slammed by the public, and this has pressured the government to agree on getting help from Terry Gou, Foxconn’s founder, and the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). Taiwan agreed to the suggestion that the two major firms will be sent to negotiate on its behalf so they can get the vaccines they need,

It was mentioned that the BioNTech vaccines will only be donated to Taiwan’s government and for distribution to the public. Foxconn and TSMC are leading parts suppliers of Apple Inc.

“There are multiple parties,” the semi-conductor company said in a statement. “We are in the middle of the contract signing process. We will make announcements once the process is completed.”

On the other hand, the spokesperson of Foxconn’s founder, Terry Gou, said that they will be informing the public if there is additional news to announce. She added that Foxconn would be explaining the details for everyone to be aware of it but gave no further details.

The COVID-19 vaccine order

Foxconn and TSMC are asking for five million doses of BioNTech’s vaccines. The government of Germany is also helping with the direct talks between the biotech firm and Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Group Co. was said to have signed a deal with TSMC for the acquisition of the vaccines. The plan is for Fosun, which has direct contact with BioNTech, to sell the vaccines to TSMC.

Bloomberg reported that Fosun Pharma signed an agreement to sell 10 million doses of mRNA vaccines to TSMC, which is a separate deal for Germany’s BioNTech. If the COVID-19 vaccines are secured by TSMC and Foxconn, Taiwan’s inoculation is expected to speed up soon.