Cambodia Launches National Single Window

0
2676

The Ministry of Economy and Finance last week launched the National Single Window (NSW) aiming to facilitate import and export activities.

Aun Pornmoniroth, the Minister of Economy and Finance. KT/ Chea Vannak

According to a statement dated June 25, NSW is a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardised information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements.

Authorised agencies are allowed to register for information submitted electronically and individual data elements will only be submitted once, the statement read.

Its goal is to strengthen government-to-government, government-to-business, and business-to-business relationships, it said.

The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) will manage the planning, development, and implementation of the NSW in accordance with the government’s policy and directions, the implementation plan of the Asean Economic Community 2015, and the Asean Single Window.

On Friday, GDCE announced that the ATIGA e-Form D can be issued via NSW starting today.

The ATIGA e-Form D is a certificate of origin for exports and imports used within Asean. Its objective is to expedite the cargo clearance process, reduce costs, save time, and enhance trade efficiency and competitiveness among Asean members through the Asean Single Window (ASW).

The Asean Single Window for customs clearance connects and integrates the National Single Windows of Asean member states to expedite the electronic exchange of customs data.

Sin Chanthy, president of the Cambodia Freight Forwarders Association, said the NSW will save traders time and reduce unofficial expenses.

“We have been waiting for an electronic system like this for a long time. The National Single Window will significantly reduce paperwork and save time. It will also help battle corruption, as traders won’t have to meet directly with officials and thus won’t be pressured to pay unofficial fees,” Mr Chanthy said.

This article was originally published in the Khmer Times.