Speaker, the ANC welcomes the initiative of government's massive partnership with a leading global pharmaceutical company, Lonza Ltd, to manufacture the ingredients of antiretroviral, ARV, drugs locally. This will see the country save millions of rands. The initiative is called Ketlaphela.
Active pharmaceutical ingredients will be manufactured, which account for about 75% of the ingredients in the making of generic ARVs. This will also provide new opportunities for South African scientists and pharmaceutical companies. This project is in line with the plan of the ANC government to address HIV and Aids through the local, cost-effective production of ARV drugs, and will also boost the local pharmaceutical industry by creating an estimated 22 000 jobs. Thank you. [Applause.]