Major General Eng Mohamed Abd Elfatah Abo Bakr., Chairman of the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), and Minister of Industry Khaled Hashem conducted an inspection tour of the Digital Manufacturing Center (DMC) located at the AOI’s Engine Factory in the Helwan district. The tour was also attended by Mr. Wang Long, Chairman of the Chinese global corporation Dongfeng.
During the visit, Major General Eng. Mohamed Abd Elfatah Abo Bakr expressed his appreciation for the serious and constructive cooperation with the Ministry of Industry. He noted that the AOI possesses engineering capabilities—including advanced production lines—that are highly adaptable to the latest global industrial developments, positioning the organization as a pivotal partner for the Ministry of Industry in executing its plans and objectives for comprehensive development.
He also welcomed Mr. Wang Long, Chairman of Dongfeng, highlighting the AOI’s commitment to forging partnerships with major international corporations. He emphasized the AOI’s vision to evolve into a platform for industrial integration—one that brings together advanced manufacturing capabilities from across the nation’s industrial sectors, the expertise and capacity of the private sector, and foreign investments and partnerships—all with the goal of enhancing industrial capabilities and competitiveness. During a tour of the Digital Manufacturing Center (DMC), Major General Eng. Mohamed Abd Elfatah Abo Bakr explained that the center serves as a key component in implementing the state’s plan to deepen local manufacturing and localize technology across both defense and civilian industries. This aligns with the directive of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to advance these efforts and promote the "Made in Egypt" initiative.
He noted that the Digital Manufacturing Center represents an advanced model for applying the concepts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, utilizing a sophisticated technological infrastructure that enables precise and complex manufacturing processes in accordance with the highest international standards.
The center houses a comprehensive array of multi-axis digital machining centers, CNC lathes and milling machines, advanced measurement systems, dynamic balancing units, and a sophisticated electronic tool management system. It is also staffed by highly trained personnel, ensuring the attainment of the highest levels of quality and operational efficiency.
He further added that this industrial facility has successfully localized the production of components for a wide range of products—including water pumps used in water purification plants, as well as sewage and industrial wastewater treatment facilities—with this output contributing to meeting the requirements of the presidential initiative, "Hayah Karima" (Decent Life).
He noted that there is ongoing cooperation with major local and international companies in the manufacturing of spare parts and industrial equipment.
This enhances the production capabilities of the Digital Manufacturing Center and ensures that products meet the highest global quality standards. Such partnerships support the state’s drive toward the localization of industry, the strengthening of supply chains, and the enhancement of the competitiveness of local products, in line with the requirements of regional and international markets.
At the conclusion of the visit, Major General Eng. Mohamed Abd Elfatah Abo Bakr highlighted the importance of continued coordination between the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) and the Ministry of Industry. He also discussed potential areas of cooperation with the Chinese company Dongfeng, affirming the AOI’s commitment to fostering industrial integration and collaboration with various state sectors, the private sector, and international firms.
The goal is to maximize the utilization of the advanced manufacturing capabilities at the Digital Manufacturing Center—located within the Engine Factory—as well as those across all other AOI factories and companies, in support of Egypt’s Vision 2030 for sustainable development.
During the tour, Eng. Khaled Hashem emphasized the Ministry of Industry’s dedication to advancing technological transformation and smart manufacturing. This effort aims to build a robust and integrated industrial base, deepen local manufacturing, increase exports, and further incorporate Egyptian industry into regional and global value chains. Hashim highlighted the importance of maximizing the utilization of the manufacturing capabilities available at the Digital Manufacturing Center (DMC) within the Arab Organization for Industrialization’s (AOI) Engine Factory.
He emphasized the need to localize modern technology and develop technical and engineering capacities, which would contribute to increasing value-added output and enhancing the competitiveness of the national industry—particularly in the engineering and supporting (ancillary) industrial sectors.
For his part, Mr. Wang Long, Chairman of the Chinese company Dongfeng, underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation with the Arab Organization for Industrialization. He praised the AOI’s industrial standing and its pioneering role in localizing state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies—a fact clearly evidenced during his tour of the Digital Manufacturing Center (DMC).
He added that discussions are ongoing regarding several topics of mutual interest, which will help foster promising industrial partnerships, open new investment horizons, facilitate the exchange of expertise, and promote integration between the two sides.