Minister of Military Production Mohamed Al-Assar and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Abdel Moneim El Banna signed a cooperation protocol for the manufacture of agricultural equipment and machinery. The National Organisation for Military Production and the Agricultural Engineering Research Institute also signed an agreement for the participation of military production companies in the implementation of national projects by the Ministry of Agriculture.

According to Al-Assar, the Ministry of Military Production supports many projects implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, providing equipment and machinery produced by military production companies in this field. He pointed out that the ministry’s subsidiaries have the technical and technological capabilities to produce various agricultural equipment, depending on the needs of projects and the nature of the environment suitable for their implementation.

For his part, El-Banna pointed out that under these two protocols, all researches and studies carried out by the Agricultural Engineering Research Institute will be made available for the development and production of agricultural machinery and equipment produced by military production companies, in line with the needs of the projects implemented by the ministry.

He further mentioned that developing the production of agricultural machinery and equipment and the manufacture of new ones by military production companies with international technology, will contribute significantly to the optimal utilisation of national capabilities to meet the needs of the local market of these products, reducing import demands, providing foreign exchange, and facilitating the implementation of many projects in favour of providing more agricultural crops for the benefit of citizens.

In another context, South Sinai Governor Khaled Fouda signed a memorandum of understanding with the National Organisation for Military Production, the Industrial Development Authority (IDA), and the Chinese CGCOC Group to cooperate in the development of the Abu Zanima industrial zone in South Sinai.

Al-Assar said that the aim of signing this memorandum is to establish a partnership between the four parties to cooperate on the establishment and development of the industrial infrastructure of Abu Zanima, in line with future projects with the participation of the Chinese side.

According to Tarek Kabil, minister of trade and industry, this agreement aims to strengthen the Egyptian-Chinese partnership in the development of industrial clusters and the establishment and operation of industrial zones.

He added that the Chinese group will provide infrastructure assistance, feasibility studies, and project designs, and contribute to financing the project through Chinese funding institutions.

He noted that the IDA will provide the necessary technical support to plan the area and identify the industrial activities that will be included in the zone and complete the procedures for land allocation within the industrial zone in Abu Zanima, noting that under this agreement, Egypt and the Chinese company will exchange expertise in the field of management and operation of export zones and trade assistance, as well as exchange of information on R&D.

According to Fouda, the industrial zone in Abu Zanima will represent a cultural and industrial boom for the province and increase investment opportunities. He said he looks forward to starting work and exploiting all available resources to maximise the economic return of the province.

The regional manager of CGCOC for Middle East and Africa said that the group aims to provide services in the establishment of industrial facilities, as well as the provision of infrastructure work within the scope of the project, and help stimulate investment opportunities in the Abu Zanima industrial zone for Chinese investors and the Chinese business community.