Several countries have been introducing and making use of single window system for better trade facilitation for many years. They as well have been heard of saying that the system has saved billions of money that would have been spent for not owning such a timely and modern system in the past.
Recognizing the paramount importance of a single window system for Ethiopia’s export-led industry, Ethiopia launched electronic single window (eSW) project, a one-stop service system, in a ceremony held at the Prime Minister’s office last Saturday.
The Prime Minister on the occasion said the new system would facilitate ease of doing business in Ethiopia, which is part of the country’s homegrown economic reform agenda.
In fact, the system would hopefully play a pivotal role in modernizing the existing old and bureaucratic customs process in the country. This is because the system would help to facilitate trade as well as provide efficient and fast services to clients.
According to Ministry of Revenues ,the project connects 16 regulatory agencies and enables traders to process all documentation relating to import and export through a single electronic submission.
Furthermore, the system creates a paperless environment, eliminates uncoordinated, multiple physical inspection, and repetitive documentary submission, thus it will reduce clearance time for 44 days 13 days and eventually to 3 days.
For instance, in order to get clearance for importing and exporting any given item, the customer has to knock the doors of several
organizations. He/she needs to bring legal trade documents from Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics, Customs port and transit and the like.
Under such circumstances wasting time in bureaucratic customs process, customers are forced to pay extra fees as it takes them several days or months for getting the required services.
The single window system therefore would satisfy the interests and desires of customers for they get various services that have been given in various organizations at one place without wasting additional time and money.
As it is well known, traders, export & import agencies as well as investors and others often voice their complaints about the unnecessary waste of time and money for exporting and importing goods, machinery or any items due to the frustrating bureaucratic red tape in the Ministry of Revenues as well as other related governmental and private organizations.
Moreover, the system will help the nation save billions of birr that are being spent for the lack of such mechanism for trade facilitation and logistics. It will also prevent the mushrooming of petty corruption than ever before as it destroys fertile grounds for any forms of corruption and also improve transparency; reduce corruption by minimizing the opportunities for physical interaction.
In sum, the launching of electronic single window system project office under the Ministry of Revenues will definitely bring about fundamental changes in the country’s trade facilitation and logistics so long as it is given the desired attention and support from the government and the stakeholders.
Those who knowingly or unknowingly resist or sabotage the making use of such latest technology need to have clear understanding on the advantages of single window system for the nation’s export-led industry. The system will also be a great relief for the customers who wait too long to get the customs services in this country.
The Ethiopian Herald January 7/2020
