Tradenet Maldives has announced the planned electronic platform for international trade, part of the Maldives National Single Window (MNSW) project, will be launched on August 2024.
The MNSW project aims to establish a centralized digital platform, with the objective of streamlining international trade by enabling trade and transport parties to submit information and documents through a single entry point.
This means, businesses and individuals can electronically submit all import, export, and transit related documents which would eliminate the need to interact with multiple entities, which in turn will reduce the paperwork and clerical tasks.
The electronic platform will feature secure international transactions, link government and business organizations, enhance transparent trade facilitation, remove current inefficiencies which in turn would lower procedure costs and save time and resource of stakeholders.
Key stakeholders of the platform include government agencies, importers, exporters, customs brokers, shipping agents and freight forwarders. Tradenet also said the platform will be ideal for other affiliated stakeholders involved in international trade and transport.
The project aims to facilitate efficient communication and streamline processes among the stakeholders. The project will be carried out under two phases, the first of which is expected to roll out in August.
The agencies and entities that would feature on the platform Phase I roll-out include:
- Tradenet Maldives Corporation Limited
- Ministry of Defense
- Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation
- Ministry of Economic Development and Trade
- Ministry of Construction and Infrastructure
- Maldives Customs Service
- Maldives Ports Limited (MPL)
- Ministry of Finance
- Ministry of Tourism
Phase II roll-out will include the following agencies/entities:
- Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy
- Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources
- Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare
- Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA)
- National Center for Information Technology (NCIT)’
- Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA)
- Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL)
The User Acceptance Testing (UAT) of the project began on Sunday, July 15 and will last until August 15, 2024. The UAT allows stakeholders and users to test the software, identify its issues, and provide feedback crucial to make amendments to the platform before official launch.
