India To Get 15 Million PPE Kits From China

Orders placed amid concern over export regulations

- Ananth Krishnan

Indian companies and government entities have placed orders for 15 million personal protective equipment (PPE) kits and 1.5 million rapid testing kits from China, officials said on Tuesday.

The Indian government is calling on China to fulfill those orders, amid concerns over tightened regulations on exporting such equipment by Chinese authorities following criticism from several European countries over the quality of exports.

“We are in the process of, or have already completed, contracting for 15 million PPE kits, consisting of gowns, masks, gloves, goggles, etc. and nearly 1.5 million rapid testing kits of all kinds, some of which have already been delivered,” India’s Ambassador to China Vikram Misri said at an online press briefing from Beijing.

A substantial amount of India’s national PPE supply is coming from China. These orders, both from the government and private sectors, were placed on a commercial basis.