Egypt's Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan Al-Khateeb has announced 29 new measures to streamline customs procedures, improve inspection efficiency, and enhance trade movement. The announcement came during his visit to the Alexandria Governorate, where he inspected several entities involved in customs clearance and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. Al-Khateeb also highlighted the importance of further developing the customs clearance system, referencing a decision made by the Cabinet during its 19th session on November 14, 2024. The decision mandates that all entities involved in the customs clearance system operate seven days a week, including weekends and public holidays, on a shift basis. This initiative is part of the first phase of a broader plan to reduce customs clearance times by up to 75 per cent, with the goal of achieving a clearance time of no more than two working days by the end of 2025. The reforms aim to cut processing time and costs, lower import and export costs, and improve the competitiveness of Egyptian products in global markets. They also are part of an ongoing effort to modernise Egypt's customs clearance system and facilitate smoother trade processes. Moreover, Al-Khateeb emphasised Egypt's strategic geographical advantages, stressing that these should be fully utilised to position Egypt among the top 50 countries in global trade within the next two years, and to reach the top 20 by 2030. He reaffirmed that the political leadership continues to provide full support for these reforms. Notably, in 2024, Alexandria Port handled 74.5 million tons of goods, representing approximately 60 per cent of Egypt's foreign trade volume. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
