JAKARTA, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Indonesia's state-run pharmaceutical company PT Bio Farma plans to produce bird flu vaccine later this year in cooperation with foreign companies, a local newspaper reported Thursday.

    Bio Farma will seek assistance from U.S. research institute Baxxter, French bird flu vaccine producer Pasteur and another producer based in Italy, reported Bisnis Indonesia.

    "We plan to begin production this year," Bio Farma President Marzuki Abdullah was quoted as saying.

    He said Baxxter representatives had visited Bio Farma factory in West Java and they were satisfied with the infrastructure, technology and skilled workers in the factory.

    Baxxter may require Bio Farma workers to pass training program first, Marzuki said.

    Indonesia is among countries hardest hit by the H5N1 virus outbreak. At least 21 people have died of bird flu in Indonesia, the world's second highest bird flu death toll after Vietnam.   Enditem