Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, and Hassan El-Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, witnessed the signing of a cooperation protocol between Ahmed Amoui, head of the Egyptian Customs Authority, and Abdelaziz El-Sherif, head of the Egyptian Commercial Service, as part of efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy.
The two ministers underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral coordination to facilitate the movement of trade and reduce customs clearance times, while leveraging the role of the Egyptian Commercial Service to enhance the efficiency of the joint risk management system and accelerate customs procedures.
They noted that the next phase will see expanded cooperation between the Customs Authority and the Egyptian Commercial Service in the automated valuation of goods, through direct communication with foreign producers and suppliers. This will also include facilitating procedures for verifying the accuracy of data and commercial documents related to Egyptian imports.
For his part, Ahmed Amoui said the protocol forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise the customs operating system, highlighting that cooperation with the Egyptian Commercial Service represents a key pillar in strengthening pre- and post-clearance verification mechanisms. He added that this cooperation helps ensure the accuracy of information while speeding up and simplifying procedures.
Meanwhile, Abdelaziz El-Sherif said the protocol further reinforces existing cooperation between the two sides. He explained that commercial service offices abroad play a pivotal role in supporting requests from the Customs Authority to verify certificates of origin and commercial invoices, contributing to improved efficiency and transparency across Egypt’s foreign trade system.
