India has been at the forefront in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and ‘really stands out’ in terms of its vaccine policy, Chief Economist of the IMF Gita Gopinath said on Monday, as she hailed the country for playing a very important role during the crisis by manufacturing and shipping the COVID-19 vaccines to several nations.

Gopinath made the comments in an interactive session during the Inaugural Dr. Hansa Mehta Lecture organized on the occasion of International Women’s Day. “I also want to mention that India really stands out in terms of its vaccine policy. If you look at where exactly is one manufacturing hub for vaccines in the world that will be India,” Gopinath said. Gopinath lauded the Serum Institute of India, saying it produces the most number of vaccines in the world in a regular year and has been manufacturing the COVID-19 vaccine doses that are delivered to COVAX and then distributed to countries around the world.

“India has been at the forefront in fighting this pandemic,” she said, noting that India has been providing vaccines through grants to several of its neighbor countries, including Bangladesh, Nepal, and Myanmar, and through commercial arrangements as well. The country has been playing a very important role in helping the world in the global health crisis through its vaccination policies, she said.

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Gopinath was responding to a question on India, which is a vaccine hub of the world, and the role the country can play in contributing to global economic recovery. Gopinath pointed out that India makes up about 7 per cent of world GDP based on purchasing power parity terms.