Egypt Country Profile

Customs Administration

Individual Corruption

According to a 2006 report on corruption in Egypt by the Kefaya Movement, employees of the Suez Canal customs administration and those working in the associations related to the Suez Canal have a reputation for engaging in corruption. They routinely extort money, and illegally confiscate cigarettes and wine from ferries crossing the Suez Canal.

Business Corruption

Companies should know that corruption is not uncommon in relation to customs administration. According to Global Integrity 2008, customs and excise laws are not always enforced uniformly and without discrimination. Large companies are reportedly unofficially exempt from paying customs duties. Low-level officials in customs zones are known to demand bribes to expedite paperwork for licences, clearances and other permits required to do business.

Frequency

The World Bank & IFC: Doing Business 2010:
- A standard export shipment of goods requires 6 documents and takes an average of 14 days at a cost of USD 737 per container.

- A standard import shipment of goods requires 6 documents and takes and average of 15 days at a cost of USD 823 per container.

World Economic Forum: The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010:
- Business executives give the efficiency of customs procedures (formalities regulating the entry and exit of merchandise) in Egypt a score of 4 on a 7-point scale (1 being 'extremely inefficient' and 7 'extremely efficient').

Transparency International: Bribe Payers Index 2008:
- Business executives give the customs a score of 3.1 on a 5-point scale (1 being 'not at all corrupt' and 5 'extremely corrupt').

The World Bank & IFC: Enterprise Surveys 2008:
- It requires in average 81 days to obtain an import licence.

- 20% of companies expect to give gifts in order to obtain an import licence.