Egypt Establishes New Logistic Zones Along Sudanese Border

CAIRO - 7 September 2023: In a decisive move to address the ongoing truck congestion issues at its border ports, the Egyptian Ministry of Transport, represented by the General Authority for Land and Dry Ports, issued an official statement detailing the current measures undertaken to ensure smoother operations.

Key Points from the Statement:

Causes of Congestion: Delays are primarily due to slower procedures at corresponding Sudanese crossings (Arqin Sudanese – Ashkit Sudanese) and a mismatch in working hours. While Egyptian ports (Arqin – Qustul) operate 24 hours/day, the Sudanese counterparts work only 4-5 hours/day.

Advanced Infrastructure: Egyptian ports (Arqin – Qustul) are equipped with state-of-the-art detection devices, including X-RAY machines, streamlining procedures and reducing clearance time within Egyptian ports.

Inspection Visits: A recent field visit was conducted by various state representatives, including Major General Ahmed Gamal El-Din, Presidential Advisor for Remote and Border Areas, and Major General Ashraf Atiya, Governor of Aswan. The visit aimed to inspect the offered logistic services to Egyptian drivers and procedures at the neutral zone between the Egyptian and Sudanese ports.

Logistics Development: Coordinated efforts between the Ministry of Transport and Aswan Governorate led to the establishment of two mini-logistic zones in Wadi Karkar and Abu Simbel city. These zones are designed to streamline Egyptian vehicle traffic to Sudan and provide various amenities like cafeterias, health care areas, restrooms, etc.

Coordination Points: Contact points have been identified between the aforementioned logistic zones and the officials of the Qustul and Arqin ports. This coordination ensures the proper routing of vehicles and restricts any unauthorized movement.

Continuous Support: Ongoing logistic support, including food, water, and medical assistance, is being provided to the drivers round the clock in the region between Karkar, Abu Simbel, Arqin, and Qustul. This initiative is in partnership with the Egyptian Red Crescent and Aswan Governorate.

Swift Procedures: There's an ongoing effort to speed up the procedures and allow for the swift crossing of trucks that have completed their paperwork on the Egyptian side.

Overnight Stay Permission: Instructions have been issued allowing Egyptian vehicles to stay overnight inside the Qustul and Arqin ports if they've completed their procedures and there's no waiting area available in the neutral zone.

Diplomatic Efforts: The Egyptian Minister of Transport, Engineer Kamel Al-Wazir, has communicated with his Sudanese counterpart through the appropriate channels (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to expedite the entrance and exit of trucks between Egypt and Sudan.

Trade between Egypt and Sudan has seen substantial growth over the years. However, congestion at the border ports has been a persistent challenge, causing delays and hindering the smooth flow of goods. These new measures by the Egyptian government underscore its commitment to fostering stronger trade ties and ensuring seamless operations at its border crossings.