The Arab Organisation for Industrialisation (AOI) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nigeria’s Vinicious Company to strengthen cooperation in the defence industries sector and expand industrial collaboration between Egypt and Nigeria.
The agreement was signed by AOI Director General Abdel Rahman Othman and Saifullah Babangida, Chief Executive Officer of Vinicious Company.
AOI Chairperson Mokhtar Abdel Latif underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation with African nations in line with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to open new avenues for partnership and integration with African countries across industrial and economic sectors.
He revealed that the two sides had agreed to cooperate in meeting several requirements of the Nigerian Ministry of Defence, praising Vinicious as one of Nigeria’s leading private-sector companies operating under a licence from the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
Abdel Latif noted that the partnership seeks to strengthen strategic ties between the two parties through the localisation of technology, transfer of technical expertise, increased local manufacturing content, and the training and qualification of Nigerian personnel in manufacturing and maintenance activities. He added that the initiative will leverage AOI’s advanced industrial capabilities and specialised training academies.
He further stated that both sides had agreed on mechanisms to implement areas of mutual interest according to clearly defined timelines, while also working to open new export channels to African and Arab markets through government contracts.
The AOI chairperson expressed pride in the strong bilateral relations between Egypt and Nigeria, stressing the importance of continued coordination and joint action to expand cooperation in defence and civilian manufacturing industries. He also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in development projects across the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
During a tour of AOI’s product exhibition, Babangida and the accompanying Nigerian delegation expressed admiration for the quality and technological sophistication of AOI’s defence and civilian products.
They reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with AOI, describing it as the industrial arm of the Egyptian state. The delegation emphasised the importance of promoting industrial integration, localising advanced manufacturing technologies, and reducing reliance on imports through the optimal utilisation of the manufacturing capabilities available to both sides.
They also stressed the need for closer coordination to advance partnership opportunities and achieve shared objectives in areas of mutual interest.
