“Single Window is defined as a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements”
UN/CEFACT RECOMMENDATION No. 33
Technical cooperation interventions have a real impact on people's lives: Trade facilitation measures have directly boosted entrepreneurship, energy efficiency projects will lead to greening the economies and to better health for all citizens, and road safety performance reviews will contribute to safer transport systems for all, which in return, will save human lives. The examples highlight some of our extensive in-house expertise which is available to member States in our region upon request.
UNECE Regional Advisers provide support from project design to implementation, ensuring that whenever possible, the results are disseminated to other countries and thus contribute to South-South cooperation. By leveraging inhouse expertise, as well as our network of governments, international organizations, private firms, NGOs, academia and civil society actors, UNECE ensures that its technical cooperation portfolio is inclusive, and has strong local ownership.
By documenting the wide variety of work carried out by UNECE, this publication aims to inspire ever more effective partnerships with governments and stakeholders throughout our region to maximize our support to member States, and their progress towards meeting the global expectations of the 2030 Agenda.
Only Ukrainian version is available
At the beginning of June, Odessa hosted one of the most ambitious upscale events dedicated to the challenges and prospects of transport, logistics and freight forwarding industry - international transport week, which for the 16 years so far serves as a platform for dialogue between representatives of business, international organizations and governments of participating countries. The traditional annual forum envisaged a number of conferences, round tables, seminars and meetings on transport, logistics and supply chain management.
The development of the Single Window is typically a major undertaking, involving the creation of inter-linkages and information sharing between Customs and other government agencies responsible for trade, as well as the trading community. It is therefore usually implemented in a phased approach.
Basically, successful implementation of the Single Window focuses more on simplifying and managing changes, rather than on technical solutions.
Within the framework of the International Trade and Transport Week,on 1 June, 2017 in Odessa (Ukraine) will host the 7th Annual UNECE Seminar on Trade and Transport Facilitation "National Single Window System and Data Harmonization in Ukraine", organized with the assistance of the UNECE, the Interagency Working Group on Trade and Logistics Facilitation and the Government of Ukraine. The representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, UNECE, WTO, UN/CEFACT,
the International Port Community Association, and Ukrainian Sea Port Authority will discuss progress in the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement implementation in Ukraine, the creation of a national Single Window and the data harmonization.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are available
As of January 2017, Mr. Hans Rook was appointed as Chairman of the InternationalPort Community Systems Association
The paper chronicles the negotiating history of the recently concluded Trade Facilitation Accord. Analysing the various stages of the decade-long effort to get the Agreement off the ground, it examines what was at stake in the negotiations, how they evolved and why they finally succeeded - despite many obstacles and detours along the way.
The study also suggests ways in which the exercise has broken new ground – for Trade Facilitation rule-making at the global level, for how WTO Members negotiate agreements, and for the world trading system as a whole.
At the seaports of Odessa and Illichivs’k automated electronic procedures, which facilitate international trade and transport for containerized cargo and rail transport based on the Single Window concept for import and export are implemented through the Port Community System (ISPS).
The ISPS is a neutral and open-end system providing for an intellectual and safe exchange of information between public control agencies and traders aimed at increasing competitiveness and effectiveness of all users of port services. The system is designed to optimize, manage and computerize the port-based logistical processes through the uniform lodgement of data and linking various elements of cargocarrying and logistical processing.
Workshop recommendations
Public Private Partnership (PPP) is a new model by which governments and the private sector work together in a long term relationship to deliver important public services. PPPs today are widely used through the world in transports energy, telecommunications and in health and education. The challenge for governments in implementing PPPs was identified by UNECE several years ago and a framework of support was elaborated in its seven principles of good governance in PPP (ECE, 2008).
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
Only Ukrainian and Russian versions are avaliable.
This fall was marked by a significant eventfor the business community as regards the implementation of procedures to facilitate international trade and transport: the introduction of the Port Community System (ISPS), i.e. a product based on the Single Window concept. As you know, on September 20 this year the Port of Odessa presented the first stage of the ISPS. Those who took part in the presentation had the first-hand experience of the system itself and its place in the port operating system, and learned about the prospects for its further implementation.
The phased transfer to the single electronic system of documents circulation has commenced in the Illichivsk Commercial Sea Port. Within the framework of the Port Community Information System (PCIS) introduction to date 550 electronic orders (1,200 containers) have been issued by the Port.
On 16 September the Operations Office of SE “Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine” held a press conference, which was attended by Yuri Vaskov, Chairman of SE ASPU, Aleksandr Golodnitskiy, First Deputy Chairman of ASPU, Chiefs of ASPU Services: Viacheslav Voronoi, Strategic Development Service, Gennady Garas, Fleet Service, Dmitriy Yakimenkov, Information Technologies Service, and Vladislav Zukhin, Engineering Service. Discussed were the issues related to the port industry reform, its pluses and problems, prospects of operation and development of Free Economic Zone, dissemination of the Odessa Port experience concerning the implementation of the port community information system (PCIS) at other ports , development of capacities of the ports, etc.
On 20 September the Odessa Port Administration conference hall received the presentation of the Port Community Information System (PCIS). Konstantin Yefimenko, First Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Yuriy Vaskov, Chairman of SE ASPU, Aleksandr Golodnitskiy, First Deputy Chairman of ASPU, Yuriy Sokolov, First Deputy Chief of the Pivdenna Customs, MINDOHODOV, Viacheslav Voronoi, Chief of Strategic Development Service, Oleg Platonov, Chairman of the Interagency Working Group for “Single Window – Local Solution”, Mikhail Sokolov, Chief of Administration of the Odessa Commercial Sea Port, and Dmitriy Yakimenkov, Chief of Information Technologies Service, ASPU, took part in the event.
The main objective of trade facilitation, as we know, is the streamlining of procedures, elimination of unnecessary bureaucratic and administrative burdens. In case of successful implementation, trade facilitation may become an important factor for the development of any state. Today, perhaps, it has become an indisputable fun
On 30 May this year in Odessa the conference hall of the Bristol Hotel received the Third International Seminar “Trade Facilitation in Ukraine and ‘Single Window – Local Solution’ Project.’ Achievements and Prospects." The organizers were the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) with the support of the Ukrainian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Ukraine) and the Association of Freight Forwarding Organizations of Ukraine UKRVNESHTRANS. The Seminar was attended by Ruslan Koshulinskiy, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Rada of Ukraine, Vladimir Schelkunov, President of ICC Ukraine, Mario Apostolov, UNECE Regional Adviser on Trade, Oleg Platonov, President of the UKRVNESHTRANS Association, Deputy Chairman of the Interagency Working Group for Implementation of the “Single Window – Local Solution” Technology in Operations Area of Pivdenna Customs House and Odessa Region Ports, Stanley Lim, FIATA President, governance of the Customs Department, the Ministry of Revenue and Duties, specialists of Odessa Port, representatives of Pivdenna Customs and maritime industry professionals.
On 29-30 May in Odessa the 12th International Transport Week, the traditional one already, took place. Within the framework of the Week held was the 3rd International Seminar of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) dedicated to trade facilitation and the local “Single Window”.
On April 2 this year Port of Odessa launched its port community system (EIPS). Its main objective is the electronic manifest. Let us remind you that an electronic manifest was launched in test mode in October 2012 by the Interagency Working Group established at the request of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov.
On 23-24 April 2013 Moscow hosted the 2nd Trade Facilitation Conference on Single Window, organized by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), together with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in the framework of the exhibition and conference “TransRussia 2013”.
Experience of implementing the Odessa Port Community System “Electronic manifest” and other paperless documents was warmly welcomed at the meeting of the Working Group of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on transport. The meeting was held in late November last year in Izmir in the framework of a series of events that preceded the International Conference on Trade Facilitation in the Black Sea and the Middle East region and a meeting of ministers of transport of the BSEC. Ukrainian delegation was chaired by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, and Head of Administration Mr Vladimir Kornienko. The port of Odessa was represented by the Head of Tourism, Development and External Relations
O. Fetisenko.
The next meeting on the implementation of electronic manifest was held two weeks later, on 14 February, after the decision of the Interagency Working Group, established by order of the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov, on the introduction of an electronic manifest instead of the paper one. The meeting, which was attended by representatives of Customs, shipping lines, stevedoring companies, container terminal operators, shipping companies, was chaired by the Head of the Odessa port, Mr Yuri Vaskov.
Until recently, in the ports of Ukraine the entire workflow and its planning existed within the paper environment. This system of information share is obsolete, and, moreover, extremely dependent on the human factor, as evidenced by numerous publications in the media, ratings and reports from international organizations. The development of information technologies allows us to fundamentally change the current situation and shift to a qualitatively new level of goods handling, in order to increase the volumes and improve the image of our country in the international arena.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) organized a round table on the role of best practices at border crossings in implementing the International Convention on the Harmonization of Frontier Controls of Goods, 1982 (Harmonization Convention).
"Creating a port community system - a “local Single Window” in the Odessa region - will be very beneficial for the business community and for the regulatory authorities. It will have a positive impact on the development of Odessa as a hub in the European logistics network between North and South and between Europe and Asia. Establishing a port community system in the Odessa Region may become a first step towards building a national Single Window with all the positive implications on limiting bureaucracy, corruption and integration with Europe in terms of international supply chains. The establishment of a country-wide system would give impetus to the development of an enabling legal environment, and a harmonization of data exchange between different agencies, based on international standards."
Mario Apostolov, Regional Adviser, UNECE Trade
On 8 October this year the Port of Odessa started the pilot project of electronic work order introduction in the test mode. On the same day the first container was processed in accordance with this technology. This is the first step in creating the Unified Information Port Community (UIPC) under “Single Window – Local Solution” Project implemented in the operations area of Pivdenna Customs and ports of “Big Odessa”.
May 22 is a great day not only for the transport industry, but for Ukraine as a whole. Port of Odessa and the State Customs Service of Ukraine signed the technological scheme on the introduction of the first phase of Single Port Community System (EIPS), i.e Single Window - Local Solution. This was made possible by five-year consecutive work of Odessa Port, PLASKE JSC and SCSU with the support of the Ministry of Infrastructure Ukraine. A number of regulations and amendments to laws, decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers, orders of SCSU and other agencies were adopted. EIPS project, implemented jointly with PLASKE JSC and SCSU covers all the processes, from the arrival of the cargo on the ship to its carriage by truck from the port territory.
On 05 July 2012, delegation from specialized seaport Oktiabrsk visited the Odessa Port to study new IT-technologies applied in port. The delegation, headed by the Chief Dispatcher, included operational specialists, legal and warehousing experts, the Press Service of Odessa Port informs.
The current position on the world market is determined primarily by its increasing globalization. The globalization is developing rapidly: companies purchase raw materials in one part of the world, process it in another one, and carried out the final assembly of the products in the third one. As to the final product, it may be sold in many countries whose geography is not limited to a single continent. Because of this growing trend the tendencies to increasing number of raw materials and commodities supply transactions, and supply by smaller shipments with longer periodicity, which inevitably leads to an increase in workflow, are strengthened. This globalization of markets results in the growing need for trade facilitation and growth of efficiency of information exchange processes. The trade facilitation issues are becoming increasingly important for Ukraine, too, under the conditions of its integration into European and world markets.
The transition from a planned economy to a market one has created great opportunities for creative economic initiatives. At the same time, this forced the Eastern European countries to face serious challenges. Lack of experience, proven rules and the legislative framework for the adequate functioning of the business had a negative impact on the development of economic and social relations. The new economic freedom has sometimes led not to an increase in efficiency but to deepening the impact of individual and group interests and the related negative phenomenon. Negative image demonstrated in the Lord of War movie may affect the countries; maybe the next stage of development within the region will be associated with the introduction of rules and systems for more efficient market economy.
The role of trade facilitation has moved to the centre stage in the light of Ukraine’s integration into European and world markets. At the moment trade facilitation has the potential to promote competitiveness and market integration. The Single Window is therefore a practical application of trade facilitation concepts meant to reduce non-tariff trade barriers and can deliver immediate benefits to all members of the trading community. Within the context of UNECE Recommendation No. 33, a Single Window is defined as a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. In practical terms, the Single Window aims to expedite and simplify information flows between trade and government and bring meaningful gains to all parties involved in cross-border trade.
An overwhelming majority of economists, from Adam Smith and David Ricardo to John Maynard Keynes, Milton Friedman and Joseph Eugene Stiglitz, voted for free trade. Trade liberalization is a key for world economy development after the Second World War. During the years since 1945 they laid stress on reduction of customs duties. However, in 1990s when tariff barriers were mostly eliminated, decision-makers were focused on more complicated issue of nontariff barriers. For this reason exactly the interest to trade facilitation increased. To deal with this issue the following Agreement in the framework of World Trade Organisation (WTO) will be used.
Trade facilitation issues are becoming increasingly important given the integration of Ukraine into the European and world markets. To date the world has quite powerful international tools. One of the tools addressing trade facilitation is the introduction of Single Window through which the information and/or documents may be submitted only once with a single entry point. The Single Window in this context is defined as a mechanism that allows the parties involved in trade and transport operations to lodge the standardized information and documents with the use of a single entry point for the purpose of fulfilling all regulatory requirements relating to the import, export and transit (Recommendation # 33 of UN CEFACT). Thus, the goal of the Single Window mode consists in expediting and simplifying the information flows between the trading enterprises and state authorities and bring meaningful gains to all parties of trans boundary trade.
Trade facilitation or in other words the simplification and harmonisation of international trade procedures appeared when freight flows increased and there was a need in impeded deliveries, advanced logistic chains, development of international trade, wider usage of container transport. Trade facilitation is recognized as an integral part of trade competitiveness and economic welfare. Steady increases in trade volumes and complexity have significantly changed the operating environment for the international trading community and for involved government agencies.
The Field Meeting of the Public Council under the State Customs Service of Ukraine, the first one in this year, was held in Odessa in the last month of summer. During the Meeting considered were the issues of creating working groups for electronic declaration, the “Electronic Customs” program, registration of foreign economic activity subjects with the customs and adjustment of goods physical inspection by customs and other regulatory authorities at the checkpoints; discussed were Draft Resolution of CMU “On Measures Providing for the Public Participation in Formation and Implementation of State Policy” and the issue of implementing the agreement between the Ukrainian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce and the All-Chinese Committee Trade Facilitation; and presentation of the of the of the Public Council under SCSU website pilot version took place, etc.
The two large-scale projects with similar names “Electronic Customs” (E-Customs), the EU project and the Ukrainian one were covered in sufficient detail in the previous publication. The material on the Ukrainian E-Customs provided an opportunity to evaluate the path traversed and visualize the problems faced by the State Customs Service in the implementation of advanced technologies.
