CAIRO – Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Salah Eldin Moustafa reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to attracting more investments and forging new partnerships with various state institutions.
This forms part of the Ministry of Military Production’s broader strategy, anchored in ongoing modernization, the localisation of cutting-edge technologies, and enhanced integration, especially with the private sector.
The minister’s remarks came during a planned inspection tour of the Tanks Production and Repair Company (Factory 200), which began with a meeting with the factory’s Chairman Wafiq Magdy Shafiq and sector heads, in the presence of officials from the ministry and the National Authority for Military Production.
The meeting reviewed updates on ongoing and upcoming projects, output metrics, sales performance, development and marketing strategies, and the availability of key production inputs.
During the meeting, the minister was assured of the workforce’s commitment to daily production targets and compliance with occupational health and safety protocols.
He underlined that regular on-site follow-up of affiliated entities is a strategic priority, as it enables precise identification of performance and productivity enhancement opportunities, and helps formulate a clear development vision aligned with the specific nature of each company or unit.
Following the meeting, the minister conducted a tour of the factory, beginning with the internal exhibition showcasing military products developed by affiliated companies.
The exhibits are part of ongoing research projects slated for announcement later this year and expected to be featured at EDEX 2025, the upcoming international defense and military industries exhibition, which Egypt will host at the end of the year.
The minister then proceeded to the main production facility, where he inspected the assembly line for the armored vehicle “Sina 200” and the production line currently being prepared for the “K9” howitzer system.
He issued firm directives to strictly enforce the use of personal protective equipment across all welding and production zones, continually enhance operational performance, implement quality control standards, adhere to project deadlines, and uphold governance and internal oversight.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining orderly and clean storage areas, adhering to scheduled maintenance to prolong equipment lifespan, and regularly reviewing production strategies, inventory levels, and industrial as well as cyber safety protocols.
The minister underscored the factory’s pivotal role in advancing both military and civilian heavy industries since its establishment in 1987 in Abu Zaabal.
He described Factory 200 as a cornerstone of Egypt’s national industrial base and one of the largest and most advanced military production facilities in the Middle East and Africa.
The factory serves as a central hub for producing military equipment, including armored vehicles and heavy-duty transport bridges, with the highest standards of quality and efficiency.
On the civilian front, it manufactures large-capacity storage tanks and plays a vital role in national development initiatives, such as the production of mobile food service vehicles.
During his visit, the minister also reviewed progress on the project to convert 2,262 public buses in Cairo and Alexandria from diesel to natural gas operation.
The project is being carried out in coordination with the ministries of petroleum and local development, along with a specialized transport manufacturing company.
The minister noted that the initiative aligns with directives from the political leadership to shift toward green transportation and phase out fossil fuels in favor of environmentally friendly energy sources, especially in light of recent natural gas discoveries.
He added that the initiative supports environmental protection, reduces import costs, and saves foreign currency, thereby bolstering the national economy.
At the end of the visit, the minister convened a meeting with factory workers to motivate them to boost productivity, hear their concerns, and instructed officials to examine and address these issues in line with applicable regulations.
He stressed the need to attract greater private and foreign investments, especially during this pivotal period marked by global challenges that demand heightened effort and resilience.
Among Factory 200’s flagship military products are the “Ra’ad 200” rocket launcher and the “Sina 200” armored vehicle.
Beyond its pivotal role in defense manufacturing, the factory also produces civil-use items, such as mobile food carts, fuel storage tanks, and portable classrooms.
It contributes to major national projects in collaboration with various government bodies, especially the private sector, by leveraging surplus production capacity.
These contributions encompass the factory’s role in the green transport initiative, including the production of the electric bus “SETIBUS,” showcased at the COP27 Climate Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Factory 200 has delivered 110 electric buses to Cairo and Alexandria governorates, and 100 buses for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
It also plays a pivotal role in converting public buses to run on natural gas and houses a model complex for producing eco-friendly cardboard packaging from banana fiber waste.
