Military production ministry considers more cooperation with private sector

The ministry aims to benefit from the success of military cooperation with France to launch joint civil projects, especially in the electronics sector, says Al-Assar

The Ministry of Military Production is considering launching joint projects with the private sector in the pharmaceutical and sports equipment industries, according to Minister of Military Production Mohamed Al-Assar.
Al-Assar told Daily News Egypt that the private sector is part of the national industry, so the ministry's companies are keen to collaborate with it on a regular basis.
Al-Assar had called for the private sector, business associations, young entrepreneurs, and investors to visit the ministry in the coming period so that the two sides can benefit from the abilities of each other and improve the Egyptian economy, aiming to achieve integration between the government and the private sector.
He also expressed his hopes to increase the role of the ministry in the coming period by participating in various projects, pointing out that the ministry's factories contribute to the reduction of imports and the increase in the country's exports, as well as providing more job opportunities.
In August 2016, the Egyptian National Organization for Military Production (NOMP) signed a cooperation protocol with Pharco Pharmaceutical Company to establish a new cancer drug plant in partnership with Egypt's Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA).
It is expected that this plant will produce about 100 types of medicines selected in coordination with the Supreme Commission for Tumours to cover the local market's needs, while the surplus would be exported.
The Ministry of Military Production aims to benefit from the success of military cooperation with France to launch joint civil projects, especially in the electronics sector, according to Al-Assar.
Al-Assar met on Tuesday with French defence minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his accompanying delegation at the Egyptian Ministry of Military Production. The meeting dealt with areas of joint cooperation between both countries.
He also called French companies and investors to visit the Ministry of Military Production's companies to study the potential cooperation opportunities between the two countries.
Regarding the ministry's participation in the IDEX 2017 exhibition—held recently in Abu Dhabi—Al-Assar said that this exhibition was a great opportunity to demonstrate the abilities of defence equipment and Egyptian military products.
During the exhibition, Al-Assar met with a large number of officials in a number of major military production companies, as well as with a number of political leaders.