Egypt reviews customs controls to aid SMEs: The Finance Ministry is reviewing Authorised Economic Operator Program conditions to allow for more SMEs to enjoy the benefits of the Green Path System in ports and customs outlets, according to a ministry statement. It is also considering providing whitelisted importers with field logistics coordinators, available outside of office hours, to assist with completing customs release procedures. The Green Path System was implemented in November to reduce time and cost of customs releases, and improve Egypt’s ranking in the World Bank’s trading across borders ranking.

The gov’t is also seeking to implement ACI pre-registration systems at Egypt’s ports to facilitate customs procedures, it said in a cabinet statement last week, as Chinese goods with incomplete paperwork have been piling up at Egypt’s ports as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. The newly revised Customs Act, which would expedite clearance through a white list of importers, among other things, is currently with the House of Representatives and expected to come into effect in 1H2020.