Zijin Mining Group Ltd. donates 2nd Fire Eye COVID-19 testing lab built by BGI in Nis, Serbia in 2020

📋 Staff Comments

1. One source ('Serbia to launch COVID-19 laboratory in Nis') reports that Agriculture Minister Branislav Nedimovic stated that the lab in Nis would additionally be financed via a donation from the Chinese Government. Xinhua reports twice, once the lab had opened and prior, that the Government of Serbia had financed the lab, with the only additional financing mentioned being that from China Zijin Mining Group Ltd. AidData has chosen to not create an additional project for a donation from the Chinese government given that (1) the reporting from Xinhua is more detailed and explicit and (2) the article citing the Chinese government was published before the laboratory was complete. However, this issue warrants further investigation.

📚 Sources & References

• Serbia opens second Chinese Fire Eye COVID-19 testing lab
• Serbia to launch COVID-19 laboratory in Nis
• Serbia Opens New Chinese-Donated Lab With Capacity of 2,000 COVID-19 Tests Per Day
• Chinese foundation donates two COVID-19 testing labs to Serbia
• China's BGI helps Serbia build automated COVID-19 testing lab
• China-built COVID-19 testing lab completed in Serbia
• COVID-19 laboratory, to test 2,000 samples daily, opens in Serbia
• China's biotech firm BGI to open two testing labs in Serbia to help fight pandemic
• China’s BGI to help build two COVID-19 testing labs in Serbia
• Key instruments for two new Serbian COVID-19 labs arrive from China
• China's BGI to deliver two COVID-19 testing labs to Serbia
• Serbia opens second Chinese Fire Eye COVID-19 testing lab Loan applications and disbursements are still being received and processed as the projects continue to evolve. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are in place to ensure project continuity.