“Single Window” Included in the National Digital Transformation Project to Strengthen Infrastructure

Dr. Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance, held a meeting with Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, to discuss ways to strengthen the digital infrastructure of the National Single Window System for Foreign Trade, ensuring sustained quality of performance and the speed and accuracy of execution. This would contribute to reducing customs clearance times and costs and improving Egypt’s ranking in the World Bank’s “Trading Across Borders” indicator.

Dr. Mohamed Maait, Minister of Finance, affirmed that digital transformation is one of the key drivers of growth and the development of competitive and diversified economies, as well as the establishment of modern societies that support knowledge and innovation and attract investment. He highlighted the importance of including the “Single Window” project for automating Egypt’s foreign trade system within the National Digital Transformation Project. This would enable fiber-optic lines and services to be connected to the logistics service centers being established and managed by the Egyptian Company for E-Commerce Technology (MTS), particularly the Port Said Logistics Services Center, in order to ensure the sustained quality of the “Single Window” project’s automated system.

He added that the meeting resulted in an agreement to sign a cooperation protocol between the Customs Authority, the Egyptian Company for E-Commerce Technology (MTS), and the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) to implement the “Single Window” system. He explained that modernizing the customs system and automating its procedures would contribute to improving the business environment, stimulating investment, and encouraging local industry, particularly in light of the government’s productive initiatives aimed at maximizing production capabilities and expanding the export base. This would contribute to advancing the national economy in a manner that meets citizens’ aspirations and improves their standard of living.

He stressed the need to strengthen cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to enhance the performance of the “Single Window” system in accordance with the latest international expertise and global standards. This would help shorten the time required to issue the inspection results for consignments referred to the National Telecom Regulatory Authority through the system, with the average processing time for this procedure not exceeding 48 hours from the date of submission, followed by notifying the relevant customs office of the result.

Dr. Amr Talaat, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, expressed his readiness to deepen cooperation with the Ministry of Finance and other state institutions and provide them with advanced technical expertise comparable to the latest global technologies. He noted that this would help strengthen their capabilities and enable them to implement digital transformation projects by establishing a robust infrastructure that ensures a successful transition to a digital society and facilitates access to government services electronically at their actual value.

He affirmed that the Ministry is committed to positive cooperation with the Ministry of Finance in modernizing and automating the customs system and ensuring the success of the “Single Window” system, contributing to reducing customs clearance times in accordance with international standards.