News Focus: RI ADOPTS SINGLE WINDOW SYSTEM TO SMOOTH EXIM TRAFFIC By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is now applying an integrated electronic-based single window service system called 'National Single Window (NSW)' at seaports and an airport to smooth the flow of exports, imports and trade services in the country.

"With the application of the NSW system, licensing procedures will be completed more speedily and at much lower expenditure," Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said after attending the launch of the full operation of the NSW import (NSW-Import) system at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port on Friday.

On the occasion, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched the full operation of the NSW-Import system which was expected to facilitate and smooth the export, import and trade services at the port and to increase Indonesia's bargaining power.

The integrated system provides application and standard information process and exchange facilities electronically. It covers all processes connected with the flows of export-import goods.

The system makes it possible for data and information to be submitted at once, synchronizes data and information processing and integrates the flow of business processes involving customs, licensing, export-import, port, payment, shipping and logistical systems as well as other systems connected with export-import handling.

The NSW is now in place at five entry gates. Four seaports and one airport, namely the seaports of Tanjung Priok, Tanjung Emas , Tanjung Perak , Belawan and Soekarno-Hatta airport, are using an electronic-based National Single Window (NSW) system to serve import activities, an official said.

Chairwoman of the National Preparatory Team in charge of developing a national single window system, Sri Mulnyani Indrawati, said the use of the system was expected to smooth the flow of exports and imports as well as trade services.

Mulyani who is also finance minister made the remarks on the occasion of the commissioning by the president of the system at a pier of PT Jakarta International Container Terminal at Tanjung Priok port.

"The inauguration marks the application of the NSW mandatory import system for all importers' goods coming in the country through the seaports of Tanjung Periok, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Emas, Belawan and Soekarno-Hatta airport," she said.

The team Mulyani chaired was set up in 2006 and was in charge of developing an NSW system in Indonesia as part of the ASEAN single window, aimed at processing customs documents electronically.

"The team has been successful in developing a blue print, a trial at the end of December 2006. It was developed with two pillars, namely trade system and port system, not only for goods coming from ASEAN nations but also for those coming from all countries," she said.

Sri Mulyani explained that since 2006 and up to 2009, the team had conducted a series of trial-tests on the system and its implementation in a limited scale.

"Beginning today, the application of the NSW system is equipped with an official website which can be accessed through cellular phones. In the days ahead, we hope that it can be operated at all international ports and airports," she said.

She said the national single window export and import service is an integrated public service which provides application, exchange and processing of information electronically.

The system will provide services in the process and flow of all exported and imported goods in an effort to increase the competitiveness of the national economy.
Mulyani said that up to 2014 the system would be expanded to include a method that would enable officers not to check all export and import goods but only those suspected of being in violation of existing rules.

In the meantime, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said the introduction of the National Single Window system at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok port was expected to smooth export and import activities.

"We want to remove service barriers at port with easier, more guaranteed and cheaper export-import activities," he said.

The implementation of the NSW should be supported with skilled human resources so that this technology would work efficiently. "The main key rests upon the human resources. After all, we already have skilled workers to operate this system so that we hope exporters and importers would use it," Rajasa said.

The system would later be integrated into the ASEAN countries' networks in order to support the export and import process with the ASEAN member countries.

According to Mulyani, the NSW system was initially applied only at Tanjung Priok port to serve priority importer partners. But later the use of the NSW system was expanded to more importers. The kinds of license processing and the license issuing agencies were also expanded.

"The launch of the NSW system is also marked with the inauguration of the NSW-Import with the NSW-Export being planned at Tanjung Perak port (in Surabaya)," she said.

She said that a present, about 20 thousand importers, 1,300 custom service firms and 15 government agencies had been using the NSW services.

"From now on, licensing will be processed through electronic services, no longer manyally. It is equipped with a mobile-version website to keep track of the applications," the minister said.