Egypt is seeking to expand its industrial partnership with French defence and technology group Thales to localise advanced manufacturing, increase local components, and target external export markets, Minister of State for Military Production Salah Soliman Gumblat announced.
The push for broader cooperation was discussed during a meeting at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital with Christophe Salomon, Executive Vice President for Secure Communications and Information Systems at Thales Group. The talks focused on the progress of “Thales Benha,” a joint venture established between the French firm and the state-run Benha Electronics Company, also known as Military Factory 144.
Gumblat described the joint venture as a practical model for Egyptian-French industrial cooperation. He noted its vital role in transferring manufacturing technologies to Egypt, developing the skills of local engineering and technical cadres, and enhancing the integration of domestic companies into global supply chains.
The minister emphasised the government’s commitment to leveraging the technological and industrial expertise of leading global corporations to upgrade the manufacturing capabilities of state-affiliated factories. He directed the provision of all necessary facilities for Thales to establish further industrial and investment partnerships with military production companies, aligning with political directives to deepen local manufacturing and raise product competitiveness.
Salomon expressed the company’s eagerness to continue and broaden the scope of its cooperation with the ministry, praising Benha Electronics for its industrial capabilities and qualified workforce that enable scaled manufacturing operations.
The Thales executive affirmed that the bilateral partnership is fundamentally built on knowledge transfer, technology sharing, and the development of local capacities. He added that the French group looks forward to expanding joint operations in ways that support supply chains and open greater avenues for Egyptian-manufactured products to reach international markets. Both sides concluded the meeting by agreeing to maintain coordination to support state efforts in developing industrial capabilities and enhancing the regional and international competitiveness of Egyptian manufacturing.
