The World Bank Keen to Assist PNG with its National Electronic Single Window Project

The team met with the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Hon. Richard Maru, and the Chief Commissioner for PNG Customs Service, Mr. David Towe, yesterday.

It was made known during this meeting that the WBG, through its global flagship Trade Facilitation Support Program, was keen to assist PNG in recommending a technical expert to help PNG:

● Finalize the user specification and go on tender;

● Evaluate the tender;

● Acquire, own, implement and upgrade the system; and

● Train Papua New Guineans to manage the system.

Minister Maru said: “PNG is still using archaic manual trade facilitation system which is very inefficient when the rest of the world has moved on to using the electronic single window system to facilitate trade which reduces approval turnaround time to minutes rather than weeks as is the case in PNG. We want to go on tender in the next three months and acquire and implement our national electronic single window system this year. We cannot delay because we are already 20 years behind the rest of the world. We need every help we can get and we are also ready, as a Government, to go all out to deliver this project.”

The visiting team was very impressed with the progress of the work done by the PNG National Trade Facilitation Committee under the leadership of Mr. Towe. They gave assurance of their support to this project of national significance.

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