Cairo – Arab Republic of Egypt
The Arab Federation for Digital Economy participated in the Arab workshop titled “Smart Systems for Sustainable Transport: Arab Experiences and Development Prospects Using Modern Technologies and Communication Systems.” The workshop was organized by the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States on October 5-6, 2025. The workshop was attended by a group of Arab and international experts and leaders in the fields of digital economy and smart transportation.
During the conference, Dr. Ayman Ghoneim, Assistant Secretary-General representing the Union, delivered a speech titled “From Geographical Borders to Digital Bridges of Trust: Building an Arab Shield for Our Trade.” He focused on the most prominent challenges facing inter-Arab trade, most notably logistical obstacles and the lack of trust resulting from the risks of counterfeiting and smuggling, which lead to increased costs and longer customs clearance times.
Dr. Ghanem explained that overcoming these challenges requires building a unified Arab smart transportation system based on an “Arab Digital Shield” with three main pillars:
- Smart locks with Internet of Things (IoT) technology : to ensure shipment tracking and detect any tampering or manipulation attempts.
- Blockchain : To secure and exchange commercial documents in a reliable and tamper – proof manner.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) : To analyze big data, assess risks instantly, and facilitate green lanes.
The speech also presented successful models, such as the Egyptian experience with the Advance Cargo Information (ACI) system through the CargoX system, which contributed to reducing customs clearance time from 29 days to less than 6 days and increased tax revenues by 13%. It also highlighted Singapore’s pioneering experience with unified national trade platforms and the lessons learned from the international TradeLens initiative.
In its intervention, the Federation emphasized that building a unified Arab system for smart transportation and trade facilitation represents a strategic step toward achieving Arab economic integration, is consistent with the General Arab Free Trade Agreement (GAFTA), and enhances the region’s competitiveness internationally.
The participation concluded with a call to adopt practical recommendations to unify technical standards and launch a unified Arab digital platform. This will contribute to accelerating trade, reducing its costs, and supporting the goals of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. Adopting unified technical standards is key to building a comprehensive Arab digital platform that achieves economic integration and supports the competitiveness of Arab trade in global markets.
The Arab Federation for Digital Economy’s participation comes in response to an invitation from the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States to engage specialized entities in discussing the future of smart transportation and exchanging Arab expertise in this field. This is in line with the League’s report to member states on the importance of building innovative sustainable transportation systems that contribute to achieving Arab economic integration and open new horizons for technical cooperation.
