Korean firm to set up health equipment industry

KIGALI - The Government has signed an MoU with Medison Co. Ltd, a Korean company that manufactures health equipment, will go into a joint venture to construct factory to manufacture ultrasound scanners The Minister of Health, Richard Sezibera, together with the Minister of ICT, Ignace Gatare, signed the MoU on behalf of the government yesterday with Won-Gihl Sohn, the CEO of the Korean company. According to a statement from the President’s Office, the factory will manufacture the latest ultrasound scanners with the aim of making the technology available to every doctor in the country for less than $10,000. The Ministry of ICT falls under the Office of the President.“Rwanda will provide land for the joint venture’s factory, and will give it favourable tax and tariff treatment. The government will also seek to negotiate suitable funding from global banks,” the statement reads. At a press briefing, Sezibera said that Medison would also facilitate the construction of a 600-bed digital hospital with latest technology, as well as a Medical university which would enable the transfer of knowledge to health workers. “This establishment is part of our government’s vision for future development and for better health care for Rwandans. Given Korea’s history and experience with technology, we are very obliged to venture in this fruitful collaboration,” Sezibera said. The partnership was labelled by the Medison CEO, Won-Gihl Sohn as “an historic moment” that portrays the company’s great confidence in conducting business in Rwanda, as a solid base to serve the healthcare communities of the East African Community. “The construction of the digital hospital and the medical university will ensure that the ultrasound technology is self-sustaining even for future generations,” Sohn said. The statement from the President’s Office clarifies that the initiative is not aid from Medison or the Korean Government to Rwanda. “This is an investment into a 50-50 joint venture between Medison and the Rwanda consortium,” it reads.However, neither the statement nor the officials could reveal how much the project would cost. Medison Co. Ltd is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of ultrasound scanners with representations in over 110 countries worldwide. Ends

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Korean firm to set up health equipment industry