The Role of Trade and Maritime Single Windows : Port Community Systems (English)

World Bank

Rapid technological improvement has led to the adoption of a variety of port data collaboration platforms both in the developed and developing worlds. Apart from the Port Community Systems (PCS), trade, and Maritime Single Windows (SW) operate in the same port logistics operational environment. The concept of SW is associated with facilities that allow trade and transport parties to lodge standardized information and documents to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. PCSs are access points which allow traders to exchange electronic information in a standard format and related to a specific activity, with relevant private parties and with regulatory government agencies. Interconnectivity and interoperability between platforms represent the next wave of the digital transformation of ports. Three systems - Port Community Systems (PCS), the Maritime Single Window (MSW) and Trade Single Window (TSW) - are critical to increased interconnectivity and interoperability. Boundaries between different platforms are starting to break down, paving the way for true single-submission and data collaboration across trade and transport supply chains. More countries are expected to reinforce interconnectivity and interoperability between the three platforms. Putting in place the necessary legal, regulatory, and institutional pillars to support the development of single-submission platforms is critical to the successful adoption of any digital platform.

trade urban development economic policy ports transport infrastructure private sector development ict other trade logistics world trade linkages trade facilitation and logistics ict solutions spillovers and connectivity transport and logistics services marine transport connectivity and lagging regions modes of transport national urban policies logistics in lagging regions logistics hubs and platforms