BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 13
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Georgia will implement a single window service in all Georgian ports, aiming to support Georgia's transit potential in 2019-2020, Trend reports with reference to Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.
The project was presented at a meeting at the ministry attended by Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava, Chargé d’Affaires of US embassy in Georgia Elizabeth Rood, other officials as well as managers of local shipping companies.
The purpose of the single window concept is to provide ports with digital government services and relieve ships of having to go through bureaucratic barriers and unnecessary processing of documentation, said the ministry.
The first phase of the project is "research of needs", which includes inventory of all maritime services and analysis of the existing bureaucracy, while the second phase includes software development and commissioning.
"One of the key components of Georgia's European integration process is the integration of the trade sector into the European single window system, which will bring Georgia a strategic advantage," said Turnava.
The minister noted that a single window system will increase volume of freight at ports and will also allow Georgian ports to plan cargo transport in advance for regular cargo ships by category and volume.
"Simplified and automated business procedures will significantly save human resources and give us the opportunity to achieve results in the shortest possible time," said Tamar Ioseliani, head of the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia.
Ioseliani noted that the project will give Georgia the opportunity to increase competitiveness as a maritime country and to create an attractive maritime sector.
The project aroused big interest of business representatives present at the meeting.
The first phase of the project which has been developed by the Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia, is funded by the US Embassy to Georgia.
---
Follow the author on twitter: @Mila61979356