Mohamed Salah El-Din Mostafa, Minister of State for Military Production, met with Aamer Shaukat, Pakistan's Ambassador to Cairo, to discuss ways to deepen bilateral cooperation across various defence and civilian manufacturing sectors. During the meeting, Minister Salah highlighted the longstanding and steadily growing relations between Egypt and Pakistan, reinforced by the strong support of both countries' political leadership. He referenced recent high-level engagements, including President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi's meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha. He also praised the recent signing of a joint defence strategic agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, aimed at strengthening regional military cooperation. Salah outlined the broad capabilities of Egypt's Ministry of Military Production, which operates 15 industrial subsidiaries, in addition to entities specialising in construction, information systems, scientific research, maintenance services, and advanced engineering and technology education. He described the Ministry as a key pillar of Egypt's national industry. He emphasised that while the Ministry's core mission is to supply the Armed Forces and police with military-grade products—including small, medium, and heavy ammunition, weapons, equipment, armoured vehicles, tanks, and electronic systems—its surplus production capacity is also directed toward manufacturing competitively priced civilian goods and participating in national development projects. Reaffirming the Ministry's openness to international cooperation, Salah noted the government's broader commitment to localising modern manufacturing technologies. He expressed particular interest in forming strategic partnerships between Egyptian and Pakistani defence and industrial companies, stressing that such collaborations would offer mutual economic and technological benefits. The Minister also extended an invitation to Pakistani companies to participate in the International Defence Exhibition "EDEX 2025," set to take place in Cairo from 1 to 4 December at the Egypt International Exhibition Centre. He noted that EDEX is Africa's only dedicated defence industry exhibition and provides a valuable platform for international collaboration and technology exchange. For his part, Ambassador Shaukat affirmed the depth of Egypt–Pakistan relations, which are built on mutual respect, cultural affinity, and shared geopolitical interests. He recalled that Egypt was the first Middle Eastern country where Pakistan established an embassy following its independence. The Ambassador noted that bilateral ties have expanded significantly in recent years, particularly in the areas of politics, defence, economics, and culture. He commended Egypt's efforts to advance its industrial base, enhance the investment climate, and undertake major infrastructure projects, thereby positioning the country as a strategic hub for access to African and Middle Eastern markets. Shaukat expressed strong interest from Pakistani companies in collaborating with Egypt's Ministry of Military Production, citing the Ministry's manufacturing, technological, and human resources capabilities. He praised its subsidiaries for their efficiency, precision, and successful track record in executing national development projects, noting that these strengths present clear opportunities for future joint ventures. The Ambassador also conveyed his best wishes for the success of EDEX 2025, emphasising Pakistan's consistent participation in previous editions and confirming that many Pakistani firms are keen to attend the upcoming event. He underscored the exhibition's global relevance as a forum for sharing expertise in land, naval, and air defence systems.
