Minister of Military Production Discusses Localizing Communications Industry with Thales Egypt and Massar
The Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production, Dr. Eng. Salah Soliman Jumblat, held a strategic meeting with Eng. Ahmed El-Assar, Founder and Director of Massar for Consulting and Business Development, and Eng. Sherif Barakat, CEO of Thales Egypt. The meeting, which took place at the Ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, focused on the latest developments in joint cooperation and explored avenues to enhance partnerships in the communications and electronics industries.
Localizing Technology and Deepening Manufacturing
Dr. Jumblat emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to executing political directives aimed at localizing advanced industrial technologies and deepening domestic manufacturing. The primary goal is to boost the competitiveness of military production companies' products to fulfill local market demands while expanding export capacities. Furthermore, the Ministry is highly focused on forging strategic partnerships with major global corporations to continuously support the national economy.
The 'Thales Banha' Joint Venture
The officials reviewed the executive status of ongoing joint projects, specifically discussing the manufacturing of communication device components at the Banha Electronic Industries Company (Military Factory 144). These operations are designed to link with global supply chains through "Thales Banha," which stands as a highly successful model of Egyptian-French cooperation in military communications. This venture significantly contributes to the transfer of advanced technology and expertise while enhancing national manufacturing capabilities.
Regional Hub Ambitions
Minister Jumblat directed the provision of all necessary facilities to establish robust industrial partnerships with Thales. He reiterated the Ministry's focus on maximizing the utilization of its subsidiaries' advanced manufacturing, technological, and technical capabilities to satisfy domestic needs first, before expanding into exports. This aligns seamlessly with the state's vision to transform Egypt into a central regional hub for manufacturing and exporting electronic and communication devices to broader international markets.
Stakeholder Perspectives
"The partnership between the Ministry of Military Production and Thales represents a crucial step toward localizing advanced technological industries and enhancing local manufacturing," stated Eng. Ahmed El-Assar, affirming Massar's dedication to providing comprehensive support to achieve these shared objectives.
Eng. Sherif Barakat expressed Thales's strong eagerness to broaden its collaboration horizons with the Ministry. He praised the outstanding industrial, technological, and human capabilities—alongside the advanced infrastructure—possessed by the Ministry's subsidiary companies, noting their high readiness to execute joint projects that absorb global technologies, deepen local production, and integrate into global supply chains.
Keywords
Ministry of Military Production | Salah Soliman Jumblat | Thales Egypt | Massar Consulting | Banha Electronic Industries | Military Communications | Technology Localization | Egyptian-French Cooperation