Sign in Subscribe
Economic development

Egypt Forms Mini Committee to Tackle Customs Evasion, Support Local Industry

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development Kamel Al-Wazir has taken a significant step in combating customs evasion, a major threat to local industry, state revenues, and product quality in the Egyptian market. Al-Wazir has ordered the formation of a mini committee to develop effective solutions to curb customs evasion while safeguarding the interests of domestic manufacturers and improving market integrity. The committee will include representatives from various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, the Egyptian Customs Authority, and the Federation of Egyptian Industries. The committee's mandate is to formulate recommendations aimed at curbing customs evasion and promoting the interests of local industry.

Key Takeaways:

  • A mini committee has been formed to develop effective solutions for combating customs evasion, a growing threat to local industry, state revenues, and product quality in the Egyptian market.
  • The committee will include representatives from the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, the Egyptian Customs Authority, the Organization for Standards and Quality, the General Organization for Export and Import Control, the Federation of Egyptian Industries, and a private-sector company owner.
  • The committee's mandate is to formulate recommendations aimed at curbing customs evasion while safeguarding the interests of domestic manufacturers and improving market integrity.
  • Deputy Prime Minister Kamel Al-Wazir has called for urgent inter-ministerial cooperation to upgrade infrastructure in the Abu Rawash Industrial Zone, which hosts 800 facilities and is expected to expand to 1,000.
  • The Ministry of Housing and Urban Communities has been tasked with preparing a detailed plan for a water and wastewater treatment plant, with approvals and permits already obtained.
  • The committee has approved the withdrawal of allocated land for three companies that exceeded designated timelines for setting up their operations, including animal feed production, rubber recycling, and food packaging.
  • Minister Al-Wazir emphasized the need for a thorough evaluation of future applicants for single industrial licenses, ensuring that projects secure necessary technical approvals and environmental clearances.
  • The Arab Organization for Industrialization has successfully manufactured water lifting pumps with 78% local content and split-case pumps with 80% local content, marking a significant step towards import substitution and industrial self-reliance.

Statistics:

  • 800 facilities are currently hosted in the Abu Rawash Industrial Zone.
  • The zone is expected to expand to 1,000 facilities.
  • 78% local content has been achieved in the production of water lifting pumps by the Arab Organization for Industrialization.
  • 80% local content has been achieved in the production of split-case pumps by the Arab Organization for Industrialization.
  • 40-80% local content is incorporated in additional pump types manufactured by the Arab Organization for Industrialization.

Sources:

  • The 26th meeting of the Ministerial Group for Industrial Development.
  • Dailynewsegypt.

Read more