Windhoek --- Public and private sector stakeholders moved Namibia closer today to implementing a National Single Window, an online tool to ease cross-border trade that has been supported by technical assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

“The revenues from increased trade, the freer flow of more components and goods are what all stakeholders seek from the government, from the haulers, to the businesses, and down to the Namibian consumer. You are truly on the precipice of a win-win situation,” said John Kowalski, Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Namibia. “We are proud to have worked closely with our partners in the Namibian government to advance the Single Window and look forward to the day that it is operational.”

Kowalski was speaking at the opening of the Namibia Inter-Ministerial Workshop on establishing an operating authority for Namibia’s National Single Window for Trade. The event involved dozens of public and private sector stakeholders that are determined to develop the operational structure of a body to implement the single window and was also attended by Hon. Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Minister of Trade, Industry and SME Development.

The single window technology facilitates the exchange of trade-relevant information between traders and government agencies, as well as among government agencies, for obtaining permits and licenses, certificates and necessary approvals. It does so by allowing traders and agents to submit trade documents and data in electronic or paper form, through a single entry point. This reduces the time it takes to clear goods and reduces the costs of doing business.

USAID has supported the implementation of Namibia’s National Single Window for several years. Evidence supports the importance of trade as a key driver of growth and poverty reduction. USAID’s evaluation of trade capacity building programs showed that US$1 of trade assistance was associated with an increase of US$53 in exports in two years and had significant employment and income impacts on individuals and families. The National Single Window is an idea that has already been successfully implemented in many other countries. When Ghana introduced a National Single Window, customs revenue increased by 50% in the first year while, simultaneously, the time and cost of exporting shrank by 65%.

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