Cairo: Egypt's exports are anticipated to rise by at least 20 percent due to the advancement of the logistics sector, positioning the nation as a potential global logistics hub, as stated by the Egyptian Association of Tax Experts (EATE).

According to State Information Service Egypt, the EATE highlighted that this growth could be driven by offering tax and customs incentives to major international corporations. These measures aim to establish Egypt as a global re-export and warehousing center. Ashraf Abdel Ghani, Secretary of the Senate Economic Committee and EATE Chairman, emphasized the logistics industry's vital role in global trade, emphasizing its responsibility for managing and delivering goods and services from production sites to consumers.

Abdel Ghani detailed that the logistics sector involves four main phases: transportation, whether by land, sea, or air, for moving products and raw materials; warehousing with modern, secure storage facilities; packaging for product protection; and reverse logistics, including returns management and recycling of leftover products.

He noted that Egypt's freight and logistics market reached $14.5 billion last year, with projections to hit $18 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 4.3 percent. Despite Egypt's strategic geographic location, the country was ranked 97th globally in logistics performance in 2014. However, following a comprehensive government development plan, Egypt improved its standing, advancing 40 places to secure the 57th position worldwide.

The government's plan includes enhancing the capacity of Egyptian ports to handle containers, increasing from 11 million to 25 million TEUs, with aspirations of reaching 40 million TEUs by 2030. Additionally, cargo handling capacity has increased from 170 million tons to 270 million tons, with a target of 400 million tons by 2030.

Abdel Ghani also mentioned a national project aimed at expanding the country's main road network from 23,500 kilometers to 31,000 kilometers. This strategy involves establishing seven international logistics corridors linking agricultural, industrial, and mining production areas with seaports through an integrated network of highways, railways, and logistics zones.