By the Logis-T Africa editorial team
Egypt is continuing its logistics and customs transformation with a clear objective: to strengthen its position as a regional hub for transport and supply chain in Africa, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The latest illustration of this strategy is the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Egyptian Customs Authority (ECA) and the Korea Customs Service (KCS).
This cooperation agreement aims to accelerate the technological modernisation of Egypt’s customs operations, a strategic priority for logistics in Africa, particularly in a context marked by the rapid growth of African international trade and cross-border e-commerce.
Shorter clearance times and more efficient supply chains
According to Ahmed Amoui, Chairman of the ECA, the agreement will significantly reduce customs clearance times, a key competitiveness factor for the African supply chain. The challenge is to streamline flows, improve service quality and enhance the overall efficiency of the customs system—often a critical bottleneck in transport in Africa.
Egypt plans to draw on South Korean expertise in smart systems, digitalisation and automated customs solutions. These technologies have become essential to support the growth of the African logistics market, particularly in high value-added segments such as express freight and e-commerce.
Smart logistics and e-commerce at the heart of the partnership
Beyond customs procedures, the protocol provides for capacity building among customs staff, as well as improved integrated logistics solutions for express shipments. This is a crucial issue at a time when trade in Africa, increasingly driven by digital channels, requires fast, traceable and reliable logistics circuits.
The recent visit by a South Korean delegation made it possible to assess Alexandria’s technological infrastructure and existing e-commerce systems, with a view to identifying concrete development opportunities. This approach is fully aligned with Cairo’s broader digital transformation strategy.
A cornerstone of Egypt’s economic and logistics strategy
Customs reform is part of a broader vision: positioning Egypt as an industrial and export platform serving Africa, Europe and Asia. Improving the business environment, attracting investment and simplifying tax and customs procedures are clear priorities for the government.
This reform agenda is also closely monitored by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), for which customs modernisation is a central pillar of Egypt’s programme. It includes increased digitalisation, administrative simplification and reduced bureaucratic delays to boost investor confidence and trade flows.
A challenging trade environment
These efforts are taking place against a challenging trade backdrop. In September 2025, Egypt’s foreign trade fell by 27.6% year-on-year to USD 3.3 billion compared with September 2024. This apparent paradox comes despite exports rising by more than 28% over the same period. For the authorities, sustainable performance improvements will necessarily depend on more efficient logistics and transport systems, capable of supporting the growth of regional and international trade.
By partnering with South Korea, a global benchmark in smart customs systems, Egypt is sending a clear signal: competitiveness now hinges on technology, the smooth flow of trade and the integration of African logistics solutions into international standards. A dynamic from which the entire African supply chain ecosystem can draw inspiration.
