Amawi stated that “together, we can achieve our objectives and facilitate cross-border trade,” emphasizing that implementing the airfreight ACI system will ensure greater speed, accuracy, and simplicity in customs procedures

Importers and representatives of air cargo companies affirmed, during an open dialogue with Ahmed Amawi, Head of the Customs Authority, that their experience with the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system in seaports is highly promising for reducing both the time and cost of customs clearance for air shipments.

 

Speaking at a roundtable hosted by the Ministry of Finance, participants said that advance registration of seaborne cargo has already helped them avoid storage fees and penalties, and they now look forward to a transformational improvement in the efficiency and speed of customs clearance at airports.

 

Amawi stated that “together, we can achieve our objectives and facilitate cross-border trade,” emphasizing that implementing the airfreight ACI system will ensure greater speed, accuracy, and simplicity in customs procedures.

 

He stressed that the Customs Authority is strongly committed to active, continuous engagement with private-sector partners, and fully prepared to provide all necessary technical support.

 

Representatives from several major companies shared detailed reflections on their experience with ACI at seaports, their expectations for the airfreight rollout, and the operational benefits they foresee.

 

Ahmed Naguib, Logistics Support Manager at Future Pharma Industries, described the shift from seaport ACI to airport ACI as “a natural and important next step,” noting: “We expect the airfreight ACI to bring a quantum leap in efficiency. Our seaport experience underscored how advance visibility of shipments accelerates customs release and cuts operating costs.”

 

He added that the company hopes the new system will provide a seamless digital platform connecting exporters, importers, freight forwarders, and customs—reducing human intervention, improving data accuracy, and ultimately enhancing Egypt’s competitiveness as a regional logistics hub.

 

Naguib acknowledged that the early stages of the seaport ACI rollout came with challenges, particularly during the digital transition. “But once we understood the full workflow, the system proved simple, clear, and stable,” he said, noting that it ultimately led to significant reductions in clearance time and improved client satisfaction.

 

Mohamed Galal, Logistics Support Manager at Badawy Group, said ACI will deliver “greater transparency and simplicity” for importers. “We expect the system to eliminate unpleasant surprises—such as rejected or delayed shipments due to missing documents,” he said.

This, he explained, will allow companies to plan operations more accurately, reduce inventory levels, improve cashflow, and enhance governance.

 

Galal stressed the need for rapid and continuous technical support for air cargo companies, alongside prioritizing training on digital platforms. He also highlighted the importance of communicating updated procedures to foreign exporters and unifying data-submission requirements.

 

Khaled Ahmed from Al-Bustaneya Agricultural Development shared a similar assessment, noting that while initial challenges existed—particularly in obtaining ACID numbers from foreign exporters on time—the seaport system soon became “much more seamless” as awareness grew.

He emphasized that ACI helped companies avoid storage fees and fines and recommended simplifying the registration of foreign companies on CargoX, easing payment processes, and providing guidance to SMEs that may struggle with digital transformation.

 

Ahmed added that companies expect the airfreight ACI to become “a catalyst for faster customs procedures,” particularly by enabling more effective risk management and reducing manual inspections—a critical advantage for time-sensitive sectors.

 

Hassan Adel from Cena Group for Import & Export expressed optimism that the system will strengthen supply-chain predictability. “As a company operating in both import and export, the airfreight ACI will directly enhance our operational planning and ability to meet client commitments,” he said.

He noted that the seaport ACI experience reinforced the value of advance planning and unified procedures, despite initial adaptation challenges.

 

Adel recommended allowing a sufficient transitional period for all parties to adjust to the airfreight implementation.

 

Mohamed Youssef, Customs Clearance Manager at the Holding Company for Biological Products & Vaccines, described the airfreight ACI rollout as a “major step toward full digital transformation.”

He explained that the seaport ACI system proved effective in tightening workflow control and reducing procedural errors, particularly those related to missing documentation or unverified suppliers.

Electronic advance registration helped ensure better oversight and enhanced transparency, Youssef said, contributing to faster and more efficient customs clearance.

 

He highlighted that airfreight has unique requirements due to the nature of goods handled at airports—especially vaccines, medical supplies, and perishable products that require clearance within hours of arrival. For sectors such as healthcare, which rely heavily on urgent air deliveries, the system must ensure both speed and regulatory compliance.

 

Anas Mohamed, Senior Logistics Specialist at Royal Med Logistics, said the airfreight ACI system represents a “critical milestone in modernizing cross-border trade.”

He emphasized that, as with the seaport system, providing all data and documents in advance enhances customs supervision and significantly accelerates clearance procedures, particularly in airports.

 

Bishoy Magdy, representing Global Nabi Pharmaceuticals, described ACI as one of the most important enablers of smoother import and export flows in Egypt. He noted that his company’s successful experience with the seaport ACI gives them strong confidence in the airfreight rollout, especially amid rapid digital transformation across the logistics sector.

 

Mina Farid of Alaska Global Cooling said the new system represents “an advanced step toward modern, streamlined customs procedures,” noting that ACI has already demonstrated its value in organizing cargo flows and strengthening pre-arrival oversight.

He praised the Customs Authority’s extensive support throughout the different implementation phases and confirmed his company’s readiness to adopt the airfreight ACI.

 

Haidi El-Hady, representing Aramex International, affirmed the company’s full preparedness to join the airfreight ACI, noting that the sector is eager to benefit from the same advantages already realized at seaports—better organization, faster release times, and enhanced pre-arrival risk management.

She stressed the need to account for the nature of air cargo, especially perishable products such as food, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies, which require immediate clearance.

 

Rami Adel from the Egyptian-German Electrical Products Company described ACI as a “positive and highly effective” system, noting that its success at seaports in reducing clearance time and costs is exactly what companies now hope to see replicated at airports.

 

Mohamed Galal, Logistics Support Manager at Badawy Group	Ahmed Naguib, Logistics Support Manager at Future Pharma Industries	Anas Mohamed, Senior Logistics Specialist at Royal Med Logistics
Bishoy Magdy, representing Global Nabi Pharmaceuticals	Haidi El-Hady, representing Aramex International	Rami Adel from the Egyptian-German Electrical Products Company

Mohamed Youssef, Customs Clearance Manager at the Holding Company for Biological Products & Vaccines