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Havana, January 12 (RHC)-- The Honduras-based Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) granted a credit of 46.7 million dollars to Cuba to produce 200 million vaccines against COVID-19, local television reported Tuesday.

This is the first line of financing granted by CABEI to Cuba, an extraterritorial partner of this regional entity.

"We welcome this first approval for the Republic of Cuba, which we hope will be the first of many. This operation, in particular, will help address the health crisis through the development of vaccines" and "will also contribute to the country's economic reactivation," CABEI Executive President Dante Mossi said in a statement.

The credit seeks to strengthen the development and production of medicines, medical equipment, and vaccines against COVID-19. Cuba has developed three that are being massively applied to its population and being exported.

The credit also contemplates strengthening the productive infrastructure of the Cuban biopharmaceutical industry.

The improvement would lead to more injectable antibiotics, parenteral solutions, generic and biosimilar drugs,  diagnostics, medical equipment, and specific vaccines against COVID-19.

The project will be executed by the United Nations Development Program, which will carry out the acquisitions following its policies and regulations.