The Bahamas Customs Department (BCD) has revealed that all the agencies that will be integrated into the electronic single window (ESW) have signed the requisite memorandums of understanding. The ESW is the prime tool through which the department will modernize its infrastructure. It consists of five components: a customs automated management system, a horizontal risk management system, other government agency (OGA) information management systems, an application integration platform and a management information system (MIS).

Noting that the ESW will facilitate the paperless processing of data, the BCD said the project promotes collaborative activities with other governmental agencies. The ESW is a major plank in the Trade Sector Support Program, which is part of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) loan program signed in 2012 to modernize customs enforcement in The Bahamas.

The Trade Sector Support Program has three components: the strengthening of customs management and capacity, the modernization of customs operations and the enhancement of the International Trade Institutional Platform, which relates to capacity building for accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The BCD touted the inclusion of stakeholders during consultancies to ensure compatibility and congruence, and the inclusion of video conferencing technology to enhance organizational communication.

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