ADDIS ABABA (Xinhua) – The Ethiopian government has officially launched a technology-oriented single import and export platform, dubbed Ethiopian Electronic Single Window Project, to ease the country’s overall import and export trading endeavor.
The Ethiopian Electronic Single Window Project, which was officially launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on 4 January 2020, brings together 16 Ethiopian government regulatory agencies, eventually enabling traders “to process all documentation relating to import and export through a single electronic submission,” the Office of the Ethiopian Prime Minister (PMO) disclosed.
“By creating a paperless environment, eliminating multiple physical inspections and repetitive document submissions, the Electronic Single Window Project will reduce clearance time from 44 days to 13 days and eventually to three days,” Office of the Prime Minister said.
In addition to promoting import and export through a single electronic submission, the Ethiopian Electronic Single Window Project platform is also expected to reduce corruption by minimizing opportunities for physical interaction, it was noted.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, addressing the official Electronic Single Window Project launching event, also stressed that the new system would facilitate ease of doing business in Ethiopia, which is part of the country’s Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda.
“We can’t achieve prosperity if we are incapable to come up with new ideas and create favorable environment for the private sector,” state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) quoted the Prime Minister as saying.
The Ethiopian Electronic Single Window Project is launched shortly after the government partnered with the Chinese e-commerce giant, Alibaba Group, for the creation of Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP), which is believed to be “a game-changer initiative” with the digital economy of Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Electronic Single Window Project, which was proposed by the Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma back in 2016, envisaged to set up an open platform for private enterprises and coordination among international organizations, governments and social groups which focus on the development of SMEs as well as trade. It was included in the communique of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was signed between the Ethiopian government and Alibaba Group on 25 November 2019, among other things, include eWTP framework, digital capacity building, and building comprehensive digital hub.
What is a National Single Window system?
The National Single Window system is a facility that allows traders to submit all import, export, and transit information required by regulatory agencies via a single electronic gateway, instead of submitting and processing the same information numerous times to different government entities, including some that are automated and others that still rely heavily on paper.
Implementation of a Single Window does not necessarily imply the implementation and use of high-tech information and communication technology. The Single Window concept can be implemented in a manual environment with the co-operation of all border authorities. However, countries may enjoy fuller benefits of a Single Window by using ICT and dataset standards commonly accepted by the relevant public and private stakeholders. The World Customs Organization’s (WCO) perspective on the national single window system concept can be found here.