Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation Sameh El-Hefny and his French counterpart Philippe Tabarot signed a technical arrangements agreement to expand cooperation in the civil aviation sector, as per a Cabinet statement. The signing took place on the sidelines of Egypt's participation in the 55th edition of the Paris Air Show 2025 — one of the world's most prominent aviation industry events. The agreement aligns with Egypt's leadership directives to enhance international cooperation and exchange expertise in aviation, strengthening Egypt's position as a regional aviation hub. El-Hefny emphasised the agreement's significance in enhancing the strategic partnership between Egypt and France, highlighting its value in various areas such as training, aviation safety, airport development, and sustainability. He also praised the longstanding ties between EgyptAir and Airbus, highlighting their cooperation since the introduction of the Airbus A300-B4 to EgyptAir's fleet, and more recently, the acquisition of A350 aircraft. The collaboration also covers maintenance and technical training, contributing to improved fleet efficiency. Additionally, Egypt's Air Cairo operates a modern fleet of over 29 Airbus aircraft, reflecting continued trust in the French aerospace manufacturer. Tabarot underscored France's readiness to boost investment in Egypt's aviation infrastructure, including airport development projects aligned with Egypt's privatisation and sustainability goals. The ministers also discussed future cooperation opportunities. El-Hefny proposed a joint initiative to establish an aircraft spare parts manufacturing centre in Egypt, in partnership with Airbus, to localise production and transfer technology to the region. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
