Maait affirms commitment to boosting int’l relations to improve customs efficiency

Cairo – January 30, 2024: Egypt is committed to strengthening relations with international partners and enhancing collaborations with customs administrations globally as part of its efforts to boost the efficiency of Egyptian customs, explained Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait.

On the sidelines of an event celebrating World Customs Day in Alexandria, the finance minister stressed on the need to enhance service quality, particularly in the face of declining international trade due to successive global economic crises.

Egypt consulted with the business community and investors prior to recently updated customs legislation to streamline and modernize procedures, aiming to facilitate both domestic and international trade, wrote an official statement from the ministry.

“We organized this celebration to raise awareness among employees and partners about World Customs Day and the organization’s slogan,” explained El-Shahat Ghatouri, Head of the Customs Authority.

Ghatouri emphasized the successful establishment of local and international partnerships to better regulate customs works, including consultations with Italian customs under an institutional twinning project. This initiative aims to gradually align Egyptian customs legislation, rules, and practices with European Union standards.

The customs head detailed the integration of information technology in advancing the customs system, including the development of logistical centers and the introduction of advanced customs applications designed to streamline, facilitate, and govern customs transactions effectively.

Amal Al-Gabry, Director General of the General Administration of Customs Development and Reform Initiatives, showcased the newly developed electronic system designed to monitor the implementation of the 2023/2026 strategic plan. Al-Gabry explained that the system enhances strategy management, fosters effective performance, strengthens governance, supports decision-making, and provides real-time tracking of executive stages for more informed decision-making.