As part of its digital initiatives to enhance port and logistics operations, the Barbados Port Inc. (BPI) is gearing up for Phase Two of the Port Community System (PCS) project.
BPI Chief Executive Officer, David Jean-Marie, explained: “The PCS project is the major plank toward achievement of the full digitalisation of cargo processing and will serve as an electronic collaborative hub, allowing public and private stakeholders to securely exchange information, documents and authorisations associated with import and export consignments within the Port.
“It will facilitate continued enhancement of Barbados’ competitive edge with greater transparency of Port operations, smoother and more streamlined supply chain management, improved services, secured e-payments, faster release of goods and reduced costs in the logistics supply chain.”
He added: “A reduction in logistics costs translates directly into lower cost of goods, which in turn generates other benefits such as improved trade flows and increased economic activity.”
Recognising that inclusion of the Port community is most vital to the PCS development process, BPI is hosting a webinar on Friday, February 24, 2023, to update stakeholders on the project. Under the theme The Path Forward, the webinar will address the main aspects of successful PCS implementation in Barbados.
The CEO said Phase 2 will involve the development of software modules over an estimated 18-month period by an in-house team.
The project steering committee has already reviewed and approved the Phase 1 deliverables, which included the Inception Report, the Situational Analysis Report and the Roadmap to Development. A Study Tour to examine PCS best practices in Rotterdam, the United Kingdom and Jamaica was completed in 2022.
A national Maritime Single Window has also been created which supports interaction with the Customs software, ASYCUDA World, and which will interact with the National Electronic Single Window, under development.
“Operationalisation of the PCS will therefore deliver a full digital services ecosystem,” Mr. Jean-Marie said.
The Caribbean Development Bank, through a grant from its Special Funds Resources allocated from the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement CARICOM Single Market and Economy Standby Facility for capacity building under the 11th European Development Fund, financed 47 per cent of the initial cost outlay at 253,418 Euros. BPI provided counterpart funding of 53 per cent or 286,840 Euros.
The funds were used to procure the technical services of the Inter-American Committee on Ports of the Organization of American States for the software development roadmap done in Phase 1.