Egyptian-French agreement to establish Thales & Benha for Electronic Industries
Thales is a French innovation champion in artificial intelligence, big data, quantum technologies, connectivity, cybersecurity, and other fields, according to the company's website.
The agreement aims to collaborate in training, research, and development concerning the production of communication devices and signal systems, said Minister of State for Military Production Engineer Mohamed Salah El-Din Mustafa, who witnessed the signing of the agreement.
Under the agreement, a new Egyptian joint stock company, named Thales and Benha for Electronic Industries, will be established.
The minister explained that the signing is part of the ministry's efforts to localize modern manufacturing technologies within its subsidiary companies in cooperation with global companies.
"From tomorrow, the implementation of manufacturing phases on the ground will begin to have an Egyptian product in the field of satellite communications by 2025," according to Thales Global CEO Engineer Sherif Barakat.
In December 2023, the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the activities of the International Defense Industry Exhibition "EDEX 2023" held in Egypt.
Thales is a long-standing partner of the French armed forces.
Being a major player in the Rafale programme, the company is making important contributions to France's armed forces modernization programmes, including Scorpion for armoured vehicles, MMCM for mine countermeasures, multi-mission frigates, the SCCOA air command and control system, theatre communication networks, satcom ground stations for the Syracuse system, and the PARADE counter-UAV system, according to its website.
The MoU was followed by several meetings between Thales and military production representatives to discuss ways of cooperation to localize manufacturing technologies in various military and civilian fields, especially in light of the distinguished technical and technological capabilities of Benha Electronic Industries Company.