Minister of State for Military Production Salah Suleiman Gembalat met with Christophe Salomon, Executive Vice President of Secure Communications and Information Systems at Thales Group, to discuss the latest developments in their partnership and ways to expand cooperation in the coming period, particularly in transferring and localizing advanced manufacturing technologies.
During the meeting, held at the Ministry of Military Production’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, Gembalat stressed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with leading global companies and leveraging their technological and industrial expertise to enhance the manufacturing capabilities of its affiliated companies, improve product quality and boost competitiveness, in line with the political leadership’s directives to increase local content.
He described the partnership with Thales as a model of Egyptian-French industrial cooperation, particularly through the establishment of Thales Benha, a joint venture between Benha Electronics Company (Factory 144) and Thales. The minister said the company contributes to transferring advanced manufacturing technologies to Egypt, developing the skills of technical and engineering personnel, and integrating Egyptian companies into global supply chains.
The meeting also reviewed the latest developments at Thales Benha and opportunities to expand the partnership, including increasing manufacturing activities, leveraging Benha Electronics Company’s industrial and technological capabilities, raising local content and opening international markets to products manufactured in Egypt.
Gembalat reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to expanding cooperation with French companies in priority areas and directed that the necessary support be provided to Thales to establish additional industrial and investment partnerships with military production companies, in support of the state’s manufacturing and technology development plans.
For his part, Salomon expressed Thales’ interest in continuing and expanding cooperation with the Ministry of Military Production, praising its partnership with Benha Electronics Company and highlighting the company’s industrial capabilities and qualified workforce as key assets for expanding manufacturing operations.
He said the Egyptian-French partnership is centered on knowledge and technology transfer and the development of local capabilities, adding that Thales looks forward to broadening cooperation to strengthen supply chains and create greater opportunities for Egyptian-made products to reach international markets.
The two sides concluded by stressing the importance of continued coordination to further develop the partnership and support Egypt’s efforts to localize technology, deepen local manufacturing, build industrial capabilities and enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian industry in regional and international markets.
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