Egypt has taken a major step towards more efficient, secure and seamless international road transport and trade with today’s signing of the TIR guarantee agreement in Cairo.
IRU member the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC), Egypt’s TIR national association, has signed the TIR guarantee agreement with the Egyptian Customs Authority. The agreement paves the way for the implementation of TIR in Egypt, reinforcing the country’s role as a strategic trade and transit hub.
Excellencies and senior representatives from across the public and private sectors participated in the ceremony, including Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Transportation Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid, and FEDCOC Chairman Ahmed El-Wakil.
“We’re all here today around a shared objective: making cross-border transport simpler, safer and more predictable,” said IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto during the opening session.
“When borders work better, businesses grow, communities are better served and economies become more connected. Efficient road transport is the backbone of trade,” he added.
TIR is the only global customs transit system. It allows goods to move across multiple borders under a single international guarantee, reducing the need for repeated customs checks while giving authorities a secure and internationally recognised framework for managing transit operations.
For Egypt, the agreement provides an important foundation for scaling up international road transport. Operators will be able to significantly reduce transport times and costs between Egypt and key markets in the region and beyond. TIR reduces border transit times by up to 92% and lowers transport costs by up to 50%.
The agreement also highlights the importance of strong public-private cooperation. Customs authorities play a vital role in ensuring compliance, protecting borders and securing trade flows.
“Today is about more than a technical agreement,” said Umberto de Pretto. “It is about trust, cooperation and a shared commitment to making trade simpler, safer and more efficient. Every hour saved at a border makes a difference.”
IRU has long supported the expansion of TIR in the region.
“We are witnessing unprecedented success across the region, with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Iraq increasingly leveraging TIR to facilitate trade, improve connectivity and boost economic growth,” concluded Umberto de Pretto. “Egypt is now set to become part of this success story.”
