The workshop was hosted by the Korean Customs Services. For 10 days at Customs Border Control Training Centre (CBCTC), Cheon-an, South Korea, 38 participants from 24 countries of the WCO Asia-Pacific region learned about the WTO TFA commitments and explored Single Window implementation options. Participants were equipped with the necessary knowledge to begin their customs modernization journey. The Masterclass was based on the WCO ECP (Economic Competitiveness Package) and UNNExT Single Window Implementation Toolkit.
What is Single Window? Single-Window system is a platform that enables international traders (importers and exporters, brokers, freight forwarders, airline and shipping agents) to submit regulatory documents at a single location or through a single electronic system, in order to get their goods cleared through Customs. These required documents are typically Customs Declarations, Invoices, Freight Documents, Shipping Manifests, Bio-Security permits, Payment of fees and taxes, and many more. Such a platform can be established electronically and/or manually. Given the geographical setting of Vanuatu, electronic means would work best.
What are the benefits of establishing a Single Window environment in Vanuatu? Single Window increases the efficiency of facilitating international trade and reduces time and costs for traders in their dealings with government agencies and regulatory authorities. In Port Vila and Luganville, a lot of valuable business time is often spent on paper work and processes in order to get goods cleared through Customs, in both sea ports and air ports. All of which contributes to increased cost of doing business, which is not a good thing for Vanuatu. For the good of Vanuatu, legitimate and committed investors want to have certain level comfort and assurance in the supply chain network, in order to secure their confidence in Vanuatu.
However, establishing a Single Window environment in Vanuatu is not as simple as one would have thought. It requires a lot of legislative and institutional reforms, with strong political will.
Government has realised its importance and has taken necessary steps towards this idea. During the WTO National Needs Assessment workshop in Nadi, Fiji, in 2013, Vanuatu has identified Single Window as its second most important priority. Furthermore, the National Trade Development Committee (NTDC), under the chairmanship of Hon. Ham Lini Vanuaroroa, in its November 2014 meeting, endorsed the establishment of the National Single Window Steering Committee (NSWSC). The line up of the committee was based on the feasibility study done by Oceania Customs Organization (OCO) back in 2013. The committee includes Customs, Bio-Security, Customs Brokers, Chamber Of Commerce, Commercial Banks, Stevedoring Companies, Airport Authorities, Sea Port Authorities, and a wide range of government agencies.
Although the committee is yet to undertake its first round of consultation meetings, it is understood from the UNNExT Masterclass workshop that the road map to Single Window is through the stages of planning, addressing legal issues, analysing business processes, simplifying and harmonizing data requirements, and finally enabling a Single Window environment to function.
In recognition of Single Window concept, Vanuatu will be embarking on the work towards this platform.
