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SCZone gets new digitalization partner to modernize operations

This collaboration is a crucial component of the Egyptian government's strategy to modernize the region and enhance its international competitiveness.

By: Business Today Egypt

Wed, Oct. 2, 2024

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has partnered with Transfora, a leading provider of business process automation, to develop a digital operations platform aimed at transforming the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) into a prominent global logistics and trade center.

This collaboration is a crucial component of the Egyptian government's strategy to modernize the region and enhance its international competitiveness.

SCZONE Chairman Walid Gamal El Din emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “We are keen to enhance partnerships and cooperation with EBRD, Agility, Transfora, and all the concerned parties to ensure the creation of a competitive and attractive business environment for investments in targeted projects”.

“[This] is especially true where it concerns digitizing all investor and logistics services. They contribute to the effectiveness of the integration philosophy between ports and industrial zones adopted by SCZONE, especially the One-Stop-Shop service that aims to maximize the benefit from SCZONE's capabilities, create a conducive business environment and simplify administrative procedures by re-engineering more than 60 services,” he added.

El Din also highlighted that it would allow the SCZone to elevate standards, improve data collection, and strengthen its overall structure.

The multi-year contract, funded by the EBRD, will enable Transfora—part of Agility Global—to implement a comprehensive enterprise management platform tailored for SCZone.

This system will manage inquiries from prospective investors, streamline essential documentation, and produce in-depth reports and analytics. It will also facilitate the operation of over 60 e-services offered through SCZONE’s one-stop shop for both potential and existing investors.

Agility Economic Zones, a subsidiary of Agility, will connect SCZone authorities with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including customs officials, logistics providers, shippers, and manufacturing companies operating within the zone. This integration is expected to greatly enhance efficiency and compliance while also improving data collection practices.

Khalid Hamza, EBRD’s Director for Egypt, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative: “We are very pleased to engage Agility to support the SCZONE in its digital transformation journey, representing a key milestone in enhancing the investment climate and competitiveness of both the Zone and Egypt leading to attracting high-quality foreign direct investment and job creation.”

Wael Khalifa, CEO of Agility Economic Zones, noted, “The SCZONE sits at the crossroads of global trade. Adoption of the Transfora platform will enhance its efficiency and rapid development as a global center for maritime transport and logistics services, an industrial gateway and the link between East and West. The companies investing in the zone see it as a manufacturing and trade engine of the future.”

Waleed Khoury, VP of Strategic Projects at Agility and CEO of Transfora, highlighted the platform's flexibility, saying, “The advantage of Transfora is that it’s a low-code enterprise digitalization platform that integrates with simple-to-complex, line-of-business systems in the cloud and on-premise. It is easy for stakeholders to use, modify, and customize. And it is accessible through both desktop and mobile devices.”