Aktual Indonesia - Authorities have received applications from six antigen rapid test (ART) companies seeking to manufacture or assemble test kits locally, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Low Yen Ling in Parliament on Wednesday (Mar 2).
These applications are “in various stages of evaluation” by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), said Ms Low, who did not name the firms. S
She also said that once these are approved, the firms will be able to apply for grant and loan schemes that the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and its statutory boards provide to support companies with their plans for local manufacturing.
There has been a surge in demand for ART kits in recent weeks, retailers told CNA previously.
In response to further questions by Member of Parliament (MP) Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (PAP-Chua Chu Kang), Ms Low also said authorities are “actively evaluating” other ART kit brands' eligibility for retail sale.