• Egypt’s Customs Authority signed an agreement with South Korea to modernize customs and e-commerce infrastructure, focusing on IT upgrades, faster clearance, and improved service delivery.
• Central to Egypt’s customs reform are the NAFEZA single window system and the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) platform.
• Planned enhancements aim to further strengthen trader confidence and sustain momentum in Egypt’s customs modernization efforts

Egypt's Customs Authority (ECA) signed a memorandum of understanding with its South Korean counterpart on December 23 to advance the modernization of Egypt’s customs and e-commerce infrastructure. The agreement focuses on upgrading information technology systems, reducing clearance times, and enhancing service efficiency across the country’s customs operations.

Under the MoU, Egypt will leverage South Korea’s advanced technological expertise to accelerate the development of smart customs systems and modern logistics services. The collaboration also includes initiatives to build institutional capacity, particularly in managing integrated logistics for express mail shipments—a growing segment in the digital economy.

Ahmed Amoy, Head of the Egyptian Customs Authority, said the move reflects Egypt’s efforts to enhance technical and technological cooperation with international partners, as part of its broader strategy of digital transformation.

The initiative aligns with Egypt’s broader push to digitize its trade environment—a process that began in 2019 with the transition from paper-based customs procedures to digital platforms. At the heart of this transformation is NAFEZA, the national single window system launched in 2021, which enables unified electronic submissions for import, export, and transit clearance. Paired with the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system, which mandates pre-arrival registration of shipment data, these tools have streamlined trade documentation and improved risk assessment.

Complementing the digital shift, the government—working in coordination with private sector stakeholders—has also invested in physical infrastructure upgrades, including expanded port terminals, improved road and rail access, and the launch of the 6th of October Dry Port. According to the 2024 Time Release Study by the ECA, these combined reforms have reduced average cargo release times from 16 days in 2021 to 8 days, signaling tangible progress in enhancing the efficiency of Egypt’s import supply chain.

Looking ahead, the Time Release Study noted that planned reforms such as expanding payment options for duties and taxes and enhancing the resilience of the NAFEZA platform to minimize unplanned outages are expected to further strengthen trader confidence and reinforce the momentum of Egypt’s broader business and customs modernization agenda.

Hikmatu Bilali