About ZeSW

A Single Window is defined as a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents electronically with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit related-related regulatory requirements.

The development of a single window environment to facilitate trade or cross border movement of goods is a modern initiative that has been under consideration by a number of international organisations, such as the World Customs Organisation, United Nations, as well as several Customs Administrations across the world.

The WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement encourages all its members to set up a Single Window in (Article 10.4). The International Chamber of Commerce Custom Guidelines 2012 also support the use of a national Single Window. The various International Organizations encourage Governments across the world to establish a Single Window environment as an important building block toward trade facilitation.

• Information or data submitted at a central or single point
• Harmonisation of data
• Enhancement of trade facilitation
• Reduction in border delays or clearance turnaround times
• Reduction in border congestion
• Reduction in economic operators cross border trade costs
• Alignment of processes and procedures with international best practices
• More effective and efficient deployment of resources
• Enhanced security
• Improved trader compliance
• Increased transparency and integrity
• Has the potential of increasing revenue inflows to Government

   Government and its various compliance agencies:

• To raise regional and national awareness of the potential of automated trade facilitation and the single window, and to help facilitate regional collaboration, integration and exchange of regional trade information
• More efficient and productive use of resources
• Enhanced collections of fees, duties and penalties
• More comprehensive, streamlined and automated business compliance to Government legislative and regulatory requirements, including the terms of international trade treaties
• Enhanced risk analysis and management and improved security
• Reductions in corruption and illegal trade activities, enhanced transparency and accountability

   Trading community:

• Cost reductions through minimised clerical efforts, time taken to reduce and to eliminate delays, and more predictable, reliable and authoritative decisions
• Faster goods clearance, exception handling and dispute resolution, leading to reduced inventory holding costs
• Predictable and reliable consignment clearance and availability of advanced goods release information
• Reduction in face to face meetings, greater transparency and reduced opportunities for rent seeking and corruption

   Transport operators and Shipping companies:

• Faster movement of goods through formalities and trade junctions, leading to better and more productive utilisation of resources
• Reliable information on timing of goods movement, allowing accurate scheduling, allocation of resources and improved accuracy of information provided to clients
• More productive and flexible use of human resources
• The ability to accurately schedule goods collection and discharge times and locations

• To improve the Countries World Bank Doing Business Ranking
• The establishment of a Single Window concept will enhance trade facilitation. The word 'facilitate' means to make easy or easier, and this is precisely the goal of trade facilitation - to make the processes and procedures of international trade as simple and efficient as possible for traders, responsible public authorities and governments
• It enhances the availability and handling of information to all Government departments and interested agencies
• It promotes faster and smooth flow or exchange of information and documents between traders and government agencies
• There will be greater harmonisation, coordinated and orderly sharing of the relevant information and documents among the Government Departments and other statutory agencies
• Improvement in the efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory controls
• Cargo is off loaded once and inspection is joint