Egypt and Türkiye have discussed cooperation in military industries, a few weeks after the two countries restored diplomatic relations.
Egyptian Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Salah El-Din Mostafa discussed with Salih Mutlu Sen, Charge d'Affaires of Türkiye in Cairo, ways for boosting cooperation between the two sides.
Early this month, Cairo and Ankara appointed ambassadors to each other's capitals for the first time in a decade to restore normal diplomatic relations.
Amr Elhamamy became Egypt's ambassador in Ankara while Türkiye nominated Salih Mutlu Sen as ambassador in Cairo, the Egyptian foreign ministry said at the time.
According to a statement by the Egyptian cabinet, Mostafa on Monday reviewed with the Turkish Charge d'Affaires, the manufacturing, technical, and technological capabilities of the companies and units of the ministry.
The meeting also touched on means to open prospects for joint cooperation between military production companies and similar Turkish companies in various fields of manufacturing.
Mostafa stressed that his Ministry was interested in the introduction of modern technologies to its factories, expanding its military and civil products, and raising their quality and competitiveness in the global markets.
He invited Turkish military industry companies to participate in the Egyptian Defense Exhibition (EDEX-2023) scheduled for December 2023.
He stressed willingness to establish new production lines in cooperation with the Turkish side, which opens up prospects and a more spacious field to enter the Arab and African markets.
Normalization between Ankara and Cairo accelerated after Sisi and Erdogan shook hands in Doha at the World Cup in 2022.
After a series of further steps towards rapprochement, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry visited Türkiye to show solidarity after the massive earthquakes that killed more than 50,000 people in Türkiye and Syria in February.
The Presidents of the two countries then spoke by telephone following the February 6 earthquake.
On Monday, Salih Mutlu Sen said that Egypt and Türkiye have constructive cooperation in many fields, which is based on mutual trust and respect.
He also appreciated the role played by the ministry in supporting and encouraging investment in Egypt.
He expressed his aspiration to create new opportunities for cooperation and open new horizons for investment to benefit both sides.
