Egypt Seeks Via ‘Nafeza’ to Boost Ports’ Performance

Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Seeks Via ‘Nafeza’ to Boost Ports’ Performance

Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Egypt's Finance Minister Mohamed Maait (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt’s Finance Minister Mohamed Maait said his country is advancing in the optimal use of modern technology to ensure the speedy and accurate implementation of projects.

This comes in line with efforts to lay the foundations for a more advanced digital work environment and governance based on linking all ports to the National Single Window for Foreign Trade, Nafeza, and the newly developed logistic centers.

Cairo has also been seeking to implement the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system to localize distinguished global expertise and reduce the customs release time, cost of the import and export process, and real-time monitoring of Egyptian imports and exports.

Maait’s remarks were made in a press statement issued by his ministry on Saturday, in which he reviewed a report on the customs’ performance during Eid al-Adha holiday.

He said these efforts will contribute to maintaining the prices of goods and services as much as possible and protecting local markets from inferior and non-conforming goods, noting that the main target is for ports to be used as transit gates only not as warehouses.

Maait underlined the importance of taking all measures for local and foreign investments to help maximize local production, enhance the competitiveness of Egyptian products in global markets, and facilitate trade movement.

He further underscored the need to improve Egypt’s ranking in three major international indicators, namely “global competitiveness, doing business, and the macroeconomic environment.”



Egypt's Non-oil private Sector Contracts Further in April

FILE PHOTO: Egyptians and tourists visit the Great Pyramids in Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, November 4, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Egyptians and tourists visit the Great Pyramids in Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, November 4, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
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Egypt's Non-oil private Sector Contracts Further in April

FILE PHOTO: Egyptians and tourists visit the Great Pyramids in Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, November 4, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Egyptians and tourists visit the Great Pyramids in Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, November 4, 2024. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo

Egypt's non-oil private sector economy contracted further in April after a decline in domestic and foreign demand caused new orders and output to fall for a second month, according to a survey released on Tuesday.

The S&P Global Egypt PMI headline index dropped to 48.5 in April from 49.2 in March, marking the lowest reading so far in 2025. A figure below 50 indicates contraction and one above 50 indicates growth, reported Reuters.

"Business activity weakened for the second month running in April as firms highlighted an additional drag from falling sales," said David Owen, Senior Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence. International market weakness impacted business confidence and spending, he said.

Despite rising input costs, driven largely by a 15% increase in fuel prices, firms kept sale prices stable, ending 56 months of inflation. Employment and purchasing activity also decreased, with companies reducing staff for a third consecutive month.

While input prices rose at their fastest pace in four months, output prices remained unchanged, reflecting subdued pressure on costs, the survey indicated. Firms expressed cautious optimism about future activity, with confidence ticking up to a three-month high, although still below long-term trends.

Supply chains remained stable, with delivery times unchanged and inventories slightly increasing. The sub-index for output dipped to 47.4 from 48.6, while that for new orders fell to 47.24 from 49.0.