Customs authority ensures immediate release of shipments of vaccines, medicines: minister

CAIRO - 14 May 2021: Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait has issued directives to head of the Egyptian Customs Authority Shahat Ghatori on speeding up customs clearance procedures for vaccines and medications immediately, even during times of weekends, vacations and days off.

The minister reiterated in a statement on Thursday that such directives are part of the State’s efforts to counter the coronavirus outbreak and provide better health care services for citizens.

Maait noted that the Cairo Airport’s customs authorities immediately finalized the process of customs clearance for over 1.7 million doses of anti-coronavirus vaccines produced by AstraZeneca.

On his part, Ghatori said the customs authorities cleared a new shipment including 550,000 doses of Sinopharm’s vaccine upon arrival at the airport, praising great efforts of the customs officers and staffers who are working around the clock to reduce time of customs clearance.