Egypt issues guide to simplified customs procedures for COP 27 climate conference

CAIRO - 18 October 2022: Egypt’s Minister of Finance, Mohamed Maait, issued a simplified guide to customs procedures and value-added tax refunds; within the framework of the ongoing preparations to facilitate customs and tax procedures for the COP27 climate conference, which Egypt will host next November in Sharm El-Sheikh.

 

The Ministry of Finance elaborated in a statement, Tuesday, that the guide includes determining customs procedures on imports under the temporary release system, procedures for goods received for display and return fees, and procedures for refunding value-added tax for foreign departures.

 

The guide was circulated, published and linked to the official website of the Climate Conference, the website of the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant authorities.

 

It includes many facilitation in procedures for those dealing with the customs system, including: excluding goods shipped at all customs ports contained in the framework of the Climate Conference from registration in the Advanced Cargo Information “ACI” system, and excluding goods arriving at Sharm El-Sheikh International Airport from registration in the “window” system, in addition to the simplified procedures for the temporary release of cameras, equipment and photographic equipment belonging to foreign journalists and correspondents.

 

The statement stated that the delegates participating in the climate conference will benefit from tax and customs exemptions and benefits, pointing to the necessity of disclosing the foreign exchange, negotiable securities or commercial papers, or any things whose value exceeds the permissible limit upon arrival, with the exception of things intended for personal use.

 

Non-Egyptians are allowed upon departure to carry the remainder of the amounts that were disclosed upon arrival, with the obligation not to bring prohibited items according to the law.

 

In September, the minister decided to form a committee, whose job it will be to ease customs clearance and value-added tax return to participants in the upcoming climate summit, which will be held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort city of Sharm el Sheikh in November.

 

The committee grouped senior officials of the customs and tax authorities, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.