South African defence company Paramount Group is in discussions with the Egyptian government to expand the country’s defence manufacturing capabilities and boost its position as an arms exporter to Africa. Paramount is seeking to set up a modernised defence industrial complex to produce advanced land, air and naval equipment, Ivor Ichikowitz, the group’s chairman said. “We’re talking to the Egyptian government to try and understand their priorities in terms of invigorating the defence and aerospace industry,” Mr Ichikowitz told The National. The North African country, which has an automotive industry that enables production of land forces equipment, has the capacity to boost its arms exports to the rest of the continent. While it has some concerns about the country’s ability to finance long-term and large-scale defence production projects, Paramount offers financing solutions to support the governments it works with, which will be an option in Egypt.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 06, 2018 03:56 UTC