Salah Suleiman Gomaa, Egypt’s Minister of State for Military Production, met with a delegation from Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture, the Oman Investment Authority, and Al Barakah Green Oman, alongside Papyrus Egypt representatives, to explore joint cooperation in various sectors, particularly waste management.
The discussions centered on potential cooperation in areas of mutual interest, especially integration in waste management, leveraging the extensive expertise of the Ministry of Military Production and its ability to utilize surplus production capacities in affiliated companies. Gomaa highlighted the existing partnership with Papyrus Egypt, which established a model complex at one of the ministry’s factories to produce environmentally friendly cardboard packaging from banana tree waste fibers. The project's second phase involves organic fertilizer production.
The minister described the complex as a successful model of public-private strategic partnership that supports the state’s sustainable development goals by transforming agricultural waste into value-added, eco-friendly products. Ismail El Sayed, a board member of Papyrus Egypt, stated that the company has identified banana tree waste fibers as a valuable untapped resource. Papyrus recycles this waste to manufacture products including pulp for paper and cardboard packaging, wrapping materials, organic fertilizers, and soil enhancers—ensuring safe waste disposal while generating economic returns.
El Sayed emphasized the importance of cooperation with the Ministry of Military Production, citing the advanced manufacturing and technological capabilities of its companies and their skilled workforce. He also noted potential collaboration with the Omani side in setting up model complexes for recycling banana waste fibers, as well as joint projects to extract activated carbon from coconut trees available in Oman.
Omani delegation members toured the cardboard packaging production line at one of the Military Production companies and the “Mostaqbal-1” waste recycling line, in which the ministry participates to produce organic fertilizer and alternative fuel. They praised the ministry’s manufacturing, technological, and technical capabilities, calling it a cornerstone of Egypt’s military industrial sector and a key state industrial arm. They observed that Oman’s strategic geographic location could serve as a gateway for transferring cardboard production technology to markets in Asia and Africa.
At the meeting's conclusion, the parties agreed to continue discussions and develop concrete mechanisms to activate a mutually beneficial strategic partnership, particularly in waste management and green industrial solutions.