Cairo: Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Hassan el Khatib affirmed that the ministry's strategic objective is to 'eliminate bureaucracy and redundant procedures, break down barriers between government entities, and unify efforts under one goal - serving the investor and facilitating trade.'

According to State Information Service Egypt, Khatib praised the inter-agency integration, describing it as the cornerstone of the state's strategy to reduce customs clearance time. His remarks came during an inspection tour of Ain Sokhna Port, conducted to follow up on operations at Egyptian ports during weekends and public holidays.

The Minister stated that seeing all entities working here as one team is a source of pride. It is a direct application of the Prime Minister's directive for continuous, uninterrupted operations throughout the week, including weekends and official holidays. 'This ensures maximum fluidity in trade movement and underscores our collective effort to achieve globally competitive customs clearance rates,' he added.

He stressed the importance of continuous monitoring of operations to ensure the sustainability of high performance and to promptly address any emerging challenges-all aimed at preserving the gains made in reducing the time and cost of clearing shipments.

As part of his tour, the minister inspected the Joint Inspection Committees, reviewing the latest progress in implementing the Integrated Customs Clearance System. He also followed up on the integrated workflow at the yards, where all regulatory authorities work together to finalize procedures, including inspection, valuation, and examination, simultaneously and efficiently.