Egypt's Minister of Military Production Mohamed el Assar on Thursday discussed with Chairman of China’s Ankai Automobile Company cooperation in manufacturing electric buses.

They also mulled joint production of electric buses for tourism and transportation purposes with a view to supporting the transport system in Egypt, putting an end to traffic congestion and pollution, protecting the environment and reducing fuel consumption. 

Assar stressed that the Ministry of Military Production possesses all the essential potentials and capabilities to manufacture the main components of electric buses. 

The meeting was part of the ministry’s efforts to shore up the local automotive industry which was given a strong impetus after an agreement to manufacture 2,000 electric buses over the course of four years was signed between one of its factories and China’s automaker Foton Motor during President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s visit to China in April . 

For his part, the chairman of Ankai company voiced keenness to cooperate with the ministry on that score.