Single Window for International Trade
Tom Butterly
Chief, Global Trade Solutions
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
UNECE
Agenda

Single Window Fundamentals

Standards Available from UN/CEFACT

Key issues in Implementing a Single Window
UNECE
Agenda

Single Window Fundamentals

Standards Available from UN/CEFACT

Key issues in Implementing a Single Window
UNECE
Single Window Definition
UN/CEFACT Recommendation 33
“A facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport
to lodge standardised information and documents with a single
entry point to fulfil all import, export and transit related
regulatory requirements.
If information is electronic, then individual data elements
should only be submitted once.’
UNECE
Single Window Concept
FROM
TO
Current Situation for Government & Traders
Trader
A 'Single Window' environment
Transport
Transport
Trader
Electronic
Customs
Electronic
Single
Window
Agriculture
Customs
Agriculture
Paper
Paper
Health Dept
Health Dept
Should be based on International Standards
UNECE
UN Recommendation 33 on Single Window
Recommends Governments to establish Single Window for
Cross Border Trade
Defines features:

… one time submission

..of standardized information and documents

sharing of information amongst government agencies;

coordinated controls and inspections of the various
governmental authorities;

Allow payment of duties and other charges;

Be a source of trade related government information.
UNECE
Single Window Facilities in many countries
… some examples
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Finland
Germany
Guatemala
Hong Kong SAR (China)
Mauritius
Japan

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Malaysia
Senegal
Singapore
Sweden
United States
Ghana
http://www.unece.org/cefact/single_window/welcome.htm
UNECE
Diversity of SW models:
Adopting to specific national/regional conditions and requirements

Financing
By the State (Finland, Sweden, United States),
By the private sector (e.g. Guatemala, Germany)
Public-private partnership (e.g. Ghana, Mauritius, Senegal, Singapore)

The use of Single Window
Compulsory (Finland, Guatemala, Mauritius, Senegal)
Voluntary (Germany, Malaysia, Sweden, United States)

Services
Free on charge (Finland, Sweden, United States)
Paid based on various payment schemes (Guatemala, Germany, Malaysia,
Mauritius, Senegal, Singapore)
UNECE
A Single Window is ..

essentially a political / organizational /
procedural concept –

it is not a technology system (only)!
UNECE
Why Implement a Single Window?
Reduce cost and time; increase predictability
Simplify processes for trade
Simplify and automate data exchange
Advance information and security
Reduce corruption
Increase competitiveness of the national economy
The New Trade Facilitation
implementation mechanism
UNECE
KEY FACTORS IN ESTABLISHING
A SUCCESSFUL SINGLE WINDOW

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Political will
Strong Lead Agency
Partnership between Government and Trade
Partnerships with Other Government Agencies

Process analysis, simplification, harmonization
and standardization

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Clear Project Boundaries and Objectives (Clear Scope)
Strep by Step Implementation (Pilots)
Use of International Standards and Recommendations

Managing the project and the Change Process

UNECE
Agenda

Single Window Fundamentals

Standards Available from UN/CEFACT

Key issues in Implementing a Single Window
UNECE
UN/CEFACT Single Window
Specific Recommendations
UN/CEFACT Recommendation & Guidelines on Establishing a
Single Window (Recommendation No 33)
Draft UN/CEFACT Recommendation 34 - Data Simplification
& Standardization for International Trade
UN/CEFACT Recommendation 35 - Establishing a Legal
Framework for an International Single Window
Currently preparing a Single Window Implementation
Framework (SWIF)– change management issues
UN/CEFACT Repository of Single Window applications
http://www.unece.org/cefact/single_window/welcome.htm
UNECE
Rec:19
Mode of Transport
Rec:16
UN/Locode
ISO Country Code
Rec: 17
Payment Terms
Rec:9
Currency Code
Commodity
Code
Rec: 28
Means of Transport
Rec: 21
Package Codes
Rec:20 Units of
UNECE
Measurement
Paper to Paperless
Electronic Document Exchange
XML or UN/EDIFACT
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<n:Invoice xmlns:n="urn:oasis:names:tc:ubl:Invoice:1.0:0.70"
xsi:schemaLocation="urn:oasis:names:tc:ubl:Invoice:1.0:0.70
UBL_Library_0p70_Invoice.xsd">
<cat:ID>token</cat:ID>
<cat:IssueDate>2003-02-14</cat:IssueDate>
<n:TaxPointDate>2003-02-14</n:TaxPointDate>
<cat:BuyerParty>
<cat:PartyName>
<cat:Name>Bills
Microdevices</cat:Name>
</cat:PartyName>
</cat:BuyerParty>
<cat:SellerParty>
<cat:ID/>
<cat:PartyName>
<cat:Name>Joes Office
Supply</cat:Name>
</cat:SellerParty>
<cat:InvoiceLine>
<cat:ID>1</cat:ID>
<cat:InvoicedQuantity
unitCode="token">5</cat:InvoicedQuantity>
<cat:Item>
<cat:Description>Pencils, box #2
red</cat:Description>
</cat:Item>
</cat:InvoiceLine>
</n:Invoice>
Electronic Edit Form
Paper Document
aligned to UN Layout Key
UNECE
Data Dictionaries and Data Exchange
Data Dictionaries
United Nations Trade Data Element Directory – UNTDED
UN/CEFACT Core Component Library – CCL
Electronic Data Exchange
Rec 25:
Use of the UN/EDIFACT Standard
These are also ISO Standards
UNECE
The Core Components
Library of UN/CEFACT
The foundation of the library is the definition of the
formats and semantic content of data
Each “Core Component” captures and defines the
details of a concrete concept used in business or
administration (for example: address)
UNECE
Cross Border Data Exchange
between Single Windows
A 'Single Window' environment
A 'Single Window' environment
Country A
Country B
Transport
Trader
Electronic
Transport
Trader
Single
Window
Customs
Electronic
Single
Window
Agriculture
Paper
Customs
Agriculture
Paper
Health Dept
Health Dept
Must be based on International Standards
UNECE
Agenda

Single Window Fundamentals

Standards Available from UN/CEFACT

Key issues in Implementing a Single Window
UNECE
Step by Step Implementation
Based on International Standards
Single Window
Recommendations 33,
and 35
National Data UNTDED, Core Component Library,
Harmonization UN LOCODE and code lists, Rec 34,
WCO Data Model
Document Simplification UN Layout Key, Master Document,
and Standardization
UNTDED, TF Toolkit and Forms Repository
Process Analysis
and Simplification
Implementa
tion Plan
Business/Political Process - Collaboration Between Trader and
Government (UN/CEFACT Rec. 4, Rec. 18) and between government
agencies, UN/CEFACT International Supply Chain Reference model,
Business Process Analysis Guide, Unified Modeling Methodology (UMM),
GFP Audit Methodology
Single Window Implementation Framework (SWIF)
UNECE
Key SW Implementation Issues

A Single Window needs the support (political will)
and participation (partnership) of all relevant
agencies and private sector participants that
participate in International trade

Single Window implementation is a 10+ year
Project (decision making, funding planning, data
modelling, Legal environment, service provider,
business model, ..) – step by step ….
UNECE
Single Window Development in Thailand
Agreement to Establish
and Implement ASEAN
Single Window signed
Cabinet’s allocation of 31 million
USD for SWeL implementation
Business model study inclusive of analysis and
simplification of business processes in export and
import of strategic products
Establishment of
National Root
Certification
Authority
Analysis and simplification of business processes for
cross-border movement of goods in 4 modes (road,
rail, sea, air)
Computer
Crime Act
Cabinet’s designation of Customs as agency
to lead SWeL implementation and MICT to
manage the project and allocated budget
Data Harmonization Phase 1:
transport documents
Electronic Transaction Act (Amendment)
Royal Decree on
Regulatory
Practices in
e-Government
Implementation
Implementation Plan for Thailand’s
SWeL approved by the Cabinet
Logistics development as one of the
national agenda in Thailand’s
Competitiveness Strategy
1999
2000
Submission of
declaration
manually or
electronically via
EDI
SWeL: Single Window e-Logistics
MOC: Ministry of Commerce
OGAs: Other government agencies
DOF: Department of Fisheries
EDI: Electronic Data Interchange
2001
2002
Data Harmonization Phase 3:
documents required by OGAs and
trade community including bank
and insurance
TH
eGIF
Electronic Transaction Act
1998
Data Harmonization Phase 2: permits,
licenses, certificates, and their application
forms from 21 OGAs
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
Electronic application for Certificate of
Origin and trade permit from MOC
Electronic application for certificate, permit, and
Development
license from DLD and DOF
of NSWx
Paperless customs declaration and clearance
Development of
(ebXML/XML/PKI)
e-Port, e-Toll, e-Gate
Pilot information sharing and exchange
between Customs and 6 OGAs
MICT: Ministry of Information and Communication Technology
TH eGIF: Thailand’s e-Government Interoperability Framework
NSWx: National Single Window hub for information sharing and exchange
DLD: Department of Livestock Development
PKI: Public Key Infrastructure
2010
Cross-border
information sharing
and exchange
Development of Single Window
Entry Prototype
Development of trade facilitation
systems (ebXML/XML/PKI) in
12 OGAs
23
UNECE
Management and Steering of
the Single Window Project
Develop a long term master plan (with
political support) that provides the
mandate and objectives for the SW project
over the long term …
… with management and oversight of the
project to a high Level Steering Board
UNECE
Implementation
Framwork
Preliminary
Feedback and
lessons learned
Software
development
H
Architecture
Change
Management
G
Implementation
Governance
A
Architecture
Vision
Requirements
Management
Policy integration
Interagency Collaboration
B
Business
Architecture
Project Planning
C
Information
Systems
Architecture
Business Process
Analysis
Electronic documents
Migration planning
F
Migration
Planning
E
Opportunities
and
Solutions
D
Technology
Architecture
e-Legislation
Standards for Interoperability
“ Adopted from An Enterprise Architecture Development Methodology, TOGAF-9. ADM.
UNECE
Regional Single Window Initiatives

Regional Single Window initiatives, such as
ASEAN
APEC
Asia Pacific
European Commission
Latin America

Key to regional initiatives is International Standards
UNECE
Data exchange between
Single Widows
Source: Indonesia National Single Window, INSW, http://www.unescap.org/tid/projects/tfforum10_bs1_noor.pdf
UNECE
Concluding Comments

Single Window is a key delivery mechanism for
implementing trade facilitation and eBusiness concepts
– the new TF implementation model!

SW Model should be based on local needs and step
by step implementation - plan

Requires strong partnerships within government and
between government and the private sector

International Standards are the basis for
interoperability and scalability

UNECE standards and recommendations are available
to support implementation
UNECE
Follow-up
All UNECE and UN/CEFACT Recommendations,
codes, standards and publications are available for
free on our website at:
www.unece.org/trade
www.unece.org/cefact/
E-mail: tom.butterly@unece.org
UNECE
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Thank you for your attention!
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Questions?
UNECE