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

Within the framework of the State’s directives aiming at enhancement of the efficiency of foreign trade and ensuring the sustainability of the flow of goods and commodities, Dr. Mohamed Farid Saleh, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, directed that all necessary measures should be taken to ensure continuous operation of the customs release system with high efficiency during the Eid al-Fitr holiday.

The Minister explained that these directives come in implementation of the circular letter issued by the cabinet, that aims to ensure that import and export activity will not be affected by official holidays and to maintain the regularity of supply chains.

Dr. Mohamed Farid indicated that it was decided that work shall continue at all customs outlets on Thursday, March 19, and that the Eid al-Fitr holiday will be limited to 1^st and 2^nd day of Eid al-Fitr only for all entities related to the customs release system, including Customs Authority, Banking Sector, and the relevant regulatory bodies, and the work will be resumed starting from the 3^rd day of Eid.

The minister stressed that continuous and round-the-clock coordination is taking place among all parties concerned with the system, to ensure a swift response to any challenges that the business community may face during holidays period, and to maintain the smooth flow of customs release without disruption.

Dr. Mohamed Farid stressed that the regularity of the customs release system during official holidays represents a fundamental pillar for stability of markets and availability of goods, and avoiding any supply chains bottlenecks that may be reflected in prices. He emphasized that the Ministry prioritizes consumer protection and support for the national product, through continuous work to reduce customs release time and decrease logistical costs, in such way that enhances competitiveness of Egyptian economy and be consistent with the State’s directions in improving the investment climate.