Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade General Organization for Export and Import Control

Eng. Hassan Al Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Mr. Ahmed Kojak, Minister of Finance, and Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, held an expanded meeting to discuss ways to develop the Export and Import Control System for the purpose of reducing customs release time, tightening borders control, and controlling markets. The meeting was attended by Major General Essam El Naggar, Chairman of the General Organization for Export and Import Control (GOEIC), and representatives of the Customs Authority, the Consumer Protection Agency, the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality, Egyptian Accreditation Council (EGAC), and the Internal Trade Development Authority.

The meeting reviewed Egypt's efforts to enhance the Export and Import Control System, in a way that ensures the protection of the local consumer and the quality assurance of the Egyptian products according to international standards, whereas it became very important to take effective steps to bridge any gaps that may affect the foreign trade.

It was emphasized that it is important to issue Certificates of Conformity for the exported goods in accordance with International Standards, which contributes to raising the competitiveness of Egyptian products in global markets.

Eng. Hassan Al Khatib, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, stated that the ministry aims to facilitate import inspection procedures and ensure their quality, while imposing strict control upon goods of unknown origin in coordination with all concerned bodies.

Al Khatib indicated that the government is bridging the gaps found in the Foreign Trade System, noting that the ministry is creating a more stable investment environment, encouraging the expansion of export-oriented production, and reducing customs release time, in such way that enhances Egypt's position in global markets.

For her part, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, stressed the Ministry’s keenness to provide all support and cooperation with the competent authorities and bodies and concerned ministries in the state to tighten control and inspection of industrial and non-industrial goods entering the Egyptian markets and subject to Organization of Export and Import Control.

Minister of Local Development pointed out the importance of working to reduce time, which contributes to the rapid exit of goods from ports to markets, facilitating control procedures at Egyptian ports, increasing governance, forming joint committees from all parties, bodies and ministries, and direct coordination between them to follow up on the conformity and inspection of goods imported into the country's domestic markets, pointing out the importance of coordination as well among specialists affiliated to local units in the governorates and the central working group for internal control of goods, as well as tightening control over them after they are circulated in the markets, taking samples, matching them and inspection by employees of the relevant bodies to avoid mixing them with any goods of unknown origin.