The decision marks a new milestone in Egypt’s ongoing customs modernization and digitalization efforts, following the successful rollout of ACI for sea freight in October 2021. By extending the system to air cargo, the government aims to enhance supply chain efficiency, strengthen border security, and accelerate customs clearance procedures.
The ACI system, operated through the Nafeza platform, enables importers and shipping agents in Egypt to submit cargo information in advance, allowing customs authorities to conduct risk assessments before goods are shipped. This ensures faster clearance upon arrival, minimizes delays at ports and airports, and reduces paperwork for all parties involved.
Under the new regulation, foreign exporters are required to upload all shipping documents electronically via the CargoX platform prior to dispatch. This process follows the issuance of the Advance Cargo Information Declaration (ACID), which is obtained by the Egyptian importer via the Nafeza platform using the proforma invoice. This step is crucial for the validation and issuance of the ACID (Advance Cargo Information Declaration) number, which must be included in all shipping documents. Without this compliance, shipments will not be permitted to entry into Egypt.