National single window for trade goes live after nearly 30 years

The National Single Window for Trade, first proposed in 1993 and pending for nearly 30 years, went into operation this week. Instead of separate paper submissions to agencies such as Customs, quarantine and the ports, traders can now complete trade procedures through a single online submission on the portal.

A private exporter created the first customs declaration through the platform on Thursday (5), the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development said.

Only two export sectors, coconut and tea, are connected at the initial stage. The platform will be expanded to other sectors 'in the near future', the policy statement said, without giving a date.

Named OneTRADE, the portal is a joint effort of the Finance Ministry, the Ministry of Digital Economy and the state-owned software company GovTech Sri Lanka. It meets commitments under the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement and is expected to cut delays and costs for importers and exporters.