Maait also revealed that the ACI system will be fully implemented in all Egypt’s ports by end of June for the sake of turning Egypt into an advanced global logistic zone that utilises the cutting-edge technologies, which paves the way for facilitating trade flow and stimulating investments.

“The date of launching the pilot operation of the system in the airports as well as the compulsory execution will be announced soon. The system has main objectives; including reducing customs clearance time, decreasing the cost of importing and exporting, boosting Egypt’s exports, streamlining the procedures, particularly what regards to production supplies as well as the strategic goods and services,” Maait noted.

In 2021, Egypt recorded its all-high-time exports in terms of their values to post $45.2 billion for oil and non-oil commodities.

As a part of Egypt’s digital transformation strategy, the government launched the National Single Window for Foreign Trade Facilitation (Nafeza) system on 1 April 2021 through the Egyptian Customs Authority (ECA) for the sake of modernising and automating the country’s customs administration, simplifying procedures, and reducing clearance times. 

ACI system, which came into effect as of 1 October 2021, is one of the services that Nafeza provides for importers and exporters. Nafeza covers Egypt’s all imports and exports.

Since October 2021, 27,000 importers have registered in Nafeza, according to the Ministry of Finance.