Full Operational Capacity at Ports and Customs Outlets Throughout the Year, Including Official Holidays, to Ensure Smooth Trade Flows and Prevent Cargo Accumulation
In implementation of the directives of the political leadership, and based on the instructions of H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, to ensure the continuity of operations at ports and customs outlets and to accelerate the pace of cargo and goods clearance, the Ministries of Finance and Investment and Foreign Trade affirm the continuation of operations at full capacity throughout the year, including official holidays, in order to ensure the smooth flow of foreign trade and prevent the accumulation of goods. This arrangement excludes only four days annually: the eve and the first day of Eid Al-Fitr, and the eve and the first day of Eid Al-Adha.
This measure aims to reduce handling and storage costs, alleviate financial burdens on the business community, and enhance the competitiveness of the national economy, as well as the attractiveness of export-oriented industrial investment.
The Ministries of Finance and Investment and Foreign Trade further clarified that all regulatory authorities operating at ports, along with banks, the Egyptian Customs Authority, and entities involved in the customs clearance system, operate year-round. Export procedures continue to be processed 24 hours a day, while import inspections are conducted until 6:00 p.m., to ensure the rapid release of shipments and achieve the required fluidity in foreign trade movement.
In this context, Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, stated:
“In light of the State’s direction towards enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy and continuing efforts to develop the business environment, we affirm our full commitment to the continued implementation of all existing policies, procedures, and initiatives, while building on and advancing achieved progress. This contributes to reducing customs clearance times, simplifying procedures provided to exporters and importers, and improving the efficiency of institutional services, alongside strengthening continuous coordination with the Ministry of Finance, the private sector, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure role integration, rapid implementation, and the achievement of digital transformation and automation objectives.”
The Minister added:
“The current phase requires the highest levels of institutional discipline, responsiveness, and teamwork. This reflects the Ministry’s commitment to its national responsibilities, enhances the confidence of investors, exporters, and importers, and reassures public opinion regarding the continuity of the reform and development trajectory—particularly in meeting citizens’ needs during the holy month of Ramadan. All necessary measures have been taken to ensure the efficient provision of essential goods and food commodities, alongside the swift clearance of their imports.”
In a related context, Dr. Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, affirmed that banks play a vital role in accelerating customs procedures by facilitating the electronic payment of duties around the clock throughout the year and providing all banking services related to customs operations in an integrated manner. This ensures the swift completion of cargo clearance and enhances the smooth flow of trade, while maintaining direct coordination with regulatory authorities to meet the needs of importers, exporters, and citizens, particularly during the holy month of Ramadan.
The Minister further noted that the full cooperation between the two ministries and the relevant banks represents a model of effective institutional integration, contributing to the achievement of the strategic target of reducing customs clearance time to just two days. This, in turn, will help reduce working capital costs, increase inventory turnover within factories, and enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian exports.
The Ministries of Finance and Investment and Foreign Trade affirm that this target represents a key economic pillar for supporting export growth, deepening local manufacturing, and integrating the Egyptian economy into global value chains, thereby strengthening Egypt’s position as a regional hub for trade and logistics services.
The two ministries also reaffirm the Government’s full commitment to regularly monitoring customs performance indicators and maintaining continuous coordination with all relevant entities to ensure the achievement of these targets, enhance Egypt’s economic competitiveness regionally and internationally, and ensure the swift fulfillment of the needs of citizens, investors, and importers—reflecting the State’s firm commitment to improving the business environment and supporting the national economy.
