A month ago , WHO and partners launched the ACT Accelerator, to speed up the development, production and equitable distribution of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics for COVID-19. Today, we are joining 37 countries and numerous partners to launch the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool, or C-TAP. C-TAP was first proposed by His Excellency President Carlos Alvarado of Costa Rica, and I'd like to thank His Excellency the President for his leadership and solidarity.

C-TAP is a sister initiative of the ACT Accelerator and offers concrete actions to achieve the objective of the ACT Accelerator, which is equitable access.