Gambia Ports Authority in collaboration with Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) on Friday 31st May 2021 commenced a five-day capacity building training on Single Window and International Trade Felicitation at Metzy Residence Hotel in Kotu.
The training sponsored by the Improvement of Port Customs and Operations Efficiency in Africa (IPCOEA) project sought to capacities participants on the application of Single Window and Port Community System. The knowledge and various techniques acquired from the training are expected to improve overall port efficiency and customs operations in the Gambia.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mot Ceesay, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport Works and Infrastructure emphasized the relevance of the training and urged participants to take the training seriously.
“This training comes at the right time when different stakeholders in the country are determined to adopt a Single Window where all businesses in import trade will be done in a single-digitized system. This will help reduce time and energy and boost revenue collection for the Gambia,” Mr. Ceesay encouraged the participants.
Babucarr M. Sarr, Chairman of GPA Board of Directors stressed that Single Window, if implemented, will have a range of positive impacts in the Gambia. He maintained that it will reduce the goods clearance process and make it less cumbersome.
“The introduction of a Single Window will significantly boost import trade volume, ensure expedient clearance processes of goods and services and in some ways, drastically reduce solicitation and extortion of money and thus enhance clients’ trust and confidence,” he posited.
Alhagie K. Mbye, Deputy Commissioner General for the Technical and Monitoring Unit of GRA also emphasized similar sentiments while stating that his institution is already on the path to a total digitization system, as the GRA currently uses a software system called ASYCUDA WORLD.
In his closing remarks, Managing Director Ousman Jobarteh said the importance of this exercise cannot be overelaborated. He assured GPA’s resolve and readiness to adopt and introduce a Single Window with relevant partner institutions
