PNG Electronic Single Window Blueprint – Important milestone in PNG’s trade facilitation efforts

Chief Trade Officer, Mr. Richard Yakam, welcomed the distinguished guests, including the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru, His Excellency Ambassador Jacques Fradin, Head of Delegation of the European Union, Mr. Richard Stephan Howard, United Nations Resident Coordinator, department and agency heads, members of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, media representatives, and all attendees who graced the hand-over ceremony of the Single Window Blueprint for Papua New Guinea.

Acknowledging the significance of the initiative and the collaborative effort required for its success, Mr. Yakam emphasized the importance of the National Trade Office as the coordinating agency for implementing trade agreements like the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and other multilateral agreements. He highlighted past inefficiencies due to the shifting of roles among agencies and stressed the need for a unified approach.

Mr. Yakam outlined the necessity of a single window system, citing Article 10.4 of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, which mandates each member country to establish or maintain a single window for streamlined documentation submission in cross-border trade. He noted the inclusion of the Single Window in PNG’s EU/Pacific Implementation Plan, funded by the EU’s 11th European Development Fund (EDF), with support from the Pacific Regional Integration Support Programme (PRISE) and UNCTAD.

The Chief Trade Officer credited Mr. Jeoffrey Kosami from UNCTAD for spearheading the Single Window Blueprint mapping project, supported by officers from the National Trade Office, PNG Customs Services, and the State Solicitor’s Office. He emphasized the electronic Single Window’s potential to enhance PNG’s global competitiveness and improve business ease and inter-agency collaboration.

Expressing gratitude for the support received, Mr. Yakam revealed plans to approach PRISE for funding the Single Window’s implementation once endorsed by the National Executive Council. He underscored the program’s alignment with national trade policies, Medium-Term Development Plans (MTDPs), and the Draft E-Commerce Strategy and Roadmap, highlighting collaborative progress during the implementation stage.

In conclusion, Mr. Yakam thanked all attendees for their presence and support, marking the hand-over ceremony as an important milestone in PNG’s trade facilitation efforts.