Government’s decision to implement an electronic single window for the clearance of goods at customs from the major points of entry was critical to Barbados becoming a logistics hub and attracting more business opportunities to its shores.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Ryan Straughn, expressed this view on Wednesday as he participated in a panel discussion during the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Global Supply Chain Forum on the topic “Towards Sustainable, Intelligent and Connected Single Windows – A SIDS Perspective”.
He told participants that the ease of doing business was critical to allowing officials to leverage logistical data and business intelligence to monitor trends in the trading of goods.
“Any single window framework is really to develop the data intelligence, business intelligence, look at how we trade, what we trade and take advantage of the export potential out of Barbados. It is really important for us to have this digital platform in place in order for us to be able to assess the effectiveness of our policy interventions,” Mr. Straughn stated.
The Minister also informed that the Bridgetown Port is doing its part to make it easier to do business there, while there were upgrades at the Grantley Adams International Airport as it related to air cargo to help generate more business for the country.
Mr. Straughn stressed that government is satisfied with the progress made with the ASYCUDA World upgrade since 2019 and pointed out that efforts would be made to ensure that all partners understood the importance of the “strength of the logistics chain”.
“So, I think over the last few years, we are reasonably satisfied that we’ve made some progress, but we now need to make sure that the private sector fully appreciates the strength of the logistics supply chain and what’s possible,” he stated.
The Minister said that during the COVID-19 pandemic and after, there were increased imports at both entry points and added that government stood ready to implement any upgrades to the ASYCUDA World software system.
Mr. Straughn is committed to the continued support of UNCTAD to pilot the upgrade of ASYCUDA 5 in Barbados in 2025, which, along with recently implemented payments systems, will lead to further trade facilitation and opportunities within the Global Supply chain.
The panel discussion was moderated by Chairperson of Jamaica’s Trade Facilitation Task Force, Patricia Francis. The other panellists included Director of the UNCTAD’s Division of Technology and Logistics, Shamika Sirimanne, Comptroller of Customs, Owen Holder, and organiser of the event and ASYCUDA’s Regional Coordinator for the Americas at UNCTAD, Jaimie Mendoza.