Cairo – Mubasher: The Egyptian Minister of Finance, Mohamed Maait, confirmed the country's commitment towards facilitating customs clearance procedures to turn Egypt into an international logistics destination.
Maait affirmed that there is no intention to postpone the mandatory implementation of the advance cargo information (ACI) system, scheduled for 1 October, according to a statement on Wednesday.
No cargo will be allowed to the country through maritime ports except through the ACI system from the beginning of October, the minister stressed.
A total of 2,500 companies have recorded about 18,000 customs transactions under the trial operation of the ACI system, which was launched in April.
Maait added that the customs portal, Nafeza, currently covers 95% of Egypt's exports and imports and is expected to extend to all ports by the end of 2021.
The mandatory implementation was pushed to 1 October from a prior deadline of 1 July.
The ACI system will help identify high-risk cargo prior to their arrival so that goods will be stored in the customs warehouses for a limited period of time which will help facilitate the trade movement and encourage the entry of new investments.
