The National Single Window project, designed to be a centralised platform where businesses and individuals can electronically submit all import, export, and transit-related documents, was officially launched today. TradeNet, a government digital services company, led the implementation of this project, working closely with an international firm to bring the platform to fruition.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, TradeNet CEO and Managing Director, Saeeda Umar, emphasised the importance of this initiative in fostering a more favourable business environment. “With today’s project launch, we can provide a lot of government services to businessmen in one platform,” she stated.
Saeeda highlighted the significant challenges businesses face in obtaining import permits and noted that the National Single Window platform would offer a comprehensive solution to these issues. However, she also acknowledged the need for a robust legal framework to support the new digital services and mentioned the necessity for certain legal reforms.
The project was initiated under former President Abdullah Yameen’s administration and funded by the Asian Development Bank.
The National Single Window Platform has already garnered recognition from prominent international organisations, including the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business, and the World Customs Organization.
Experts in the field anticipate that the introduction of this system will lead to considerable savings in both time and costs for businesses, primarily by easing communication and transactions with government agencies and companies.
While the platform has been officially launched, the full introduction of the National Single Window Platform has been postponed until November. Saeeda explained that this delay is intended to allow time to raise awareness among businesses about the system’s capabilities and benefits.
