First Electronic Single Window Workshop starts with Public and Private stakeholders

DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The Ministry of Business and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) today hosted its first Electronic Single Window (ESW) workshop at the Pegasus Hotel, under the focus “Developing a Roadmap to Electronic Single Window in Guyana”.

The workshop aims to identify and analyse conceptual models and challenges for implementation and global practices for the development of the Electronic Single Window (ESW) in Guyana.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin explained that the project, once implemented will transform the way business is done in the country. He also noted the initiative is a key element of his ministry’s strategic plan.

“This is what businesses in Guyana want, and this is what Guyana needs to facilitate trade and other business transactions in a way that is efficient and cost-effective and clean from corrupt practices.”

The Minister assured that the venture will not be one to fade away, and therefore encouraged stakeholders to take ownership of the project and its development.

“We have an important mission and it is we who have to get it right. I am not suggesting that we alone have to develop the single window system, or that we have no friends or partners to help us in how we develop this system.”

He further added, “we need to own this and believe in it, because if we do not then there will be no single window electronic system in Guyana anytime soon. And we would have lost a great opportunity to transform the way Guyana does business”.

In light of a competitive global marketplace, the Business Minister stressed the importance of adapting and implementing the initiative, since the country can face severe consequences if it cannot facilitate effective trade.

Minister Gaskin commended the South Korea Technical Corporation and the IDB for funding the preparatory work of the project. The backing, he noted, came as a result of pushing international trade and economic development around the world.

Country Representative of the IDB, Sophie Makonnen explained the project is being supported by the Regional Technical Corporation to support trade and investment promotion which was approved last year.

Also attending the workshop was Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan and participants of the Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana National Bureau of Standards, private sector representatives and relevant public-sector agencies. This initiative is being led by the Ministry of Business as part of its Strategic Action Plan for 2016-2020.

The Single Window aims to expedite and simplify information flows between trade participants and the Government, bringing meaningful gains to all parties involved in the domestic and cross-border trade.

According to the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) Recommendation 33, a Single Window is defined as “A facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single-entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. Once the information is electronic, then individual data elements should only be submitted once.”

 

By: Crystal Stoll