Russia's sovereign wealth fund said on Wednesday it had agreed to supply 25 million doses of its potential COVID-19 vaccine to Egypt via Pharco, which it described as one of the country's leading pharmaceutical groups, Reuters reported.

The Russian Direct Investment Fund has struck several deals to supply the Sputnik V vaccine abroad, including 100 million doses to India where it also expects to hold clinical trials.

Egypt is in talks to acquire coronavirus vaccines as soon as they are proved to be effective and are recognised internationally, the Egyptian cabinet spokesperson Nader Saad had said on Thursday.

Saad said that Egypt has secured a commitment from the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) to receive 30 million vaccine doses as soon as the vaccine is accredited.

“Egypt is one of the first countries that will receive the vaccine in such quantities,” he said.