IN SUPPORT of the national initiative to continuously improve public services and facilitate trade across borders that will benefit the private sector, including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Brunei Government through the Ministry of Finance has implemented the Brunei Darussalam National Single Window (BDNSW) System.
The system is part of the ministry’s contribution towards the creation of the Asean Single Window (ASW) with the objective of expediting cargo clearance within the context of increased Asean economic integration.
The Royal Customs and Excise Department under the Ministry of Finance has been commissioned to implement the BDNSW. It aims to transform business functions into an integrated electronic process, allowing the trading community to submit applications electronically to the Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) for processing and approval.
Apart from facilitating the import and export of goods across borders, the BDNSW also aims to improve the collection of revenues via integration with the e-Payment Gateway, a flagship project under the Ministry of Finance. Payment has also been made easy by leveraging on Internet banking, which the Royal Customs and Excise Department has embarked on.
The BDNSW involves 20 government agencies that deal with controlling activities of various types of imported and exported goods. The integrated process will be able to expedite cargo release and clearance by means of simplifying trade-related processes and procedures among the agencies.
The electronic system would also significantly reduce paper documents and the number of trips to government counters.
The Brunei Darussalam National Single Window (BDNSW) portal. The BDNSW involves 20 government agencies that deal with controlling activities of various types of imported and exported goods. The integrated process will be able to expedite cargo release and clearance by means of simplifying trade-related processes and procedures among the agencies. – MINISTRY OF FINANCE
The Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) has been commissioned to implement the BDNSW, with the aim of transforming business functions into an integrated electronic process. This will allow the trading community to submit applications electronically to RCED for processing and approval
As the name implies, BDNSW is a system that enables a single submission of data and information; single and synchronous processing of data and information; single decision-making for customs release and clearance and single decision-making or point of decision for the release of cargoes by RCED; and have decisions made by line ministries and agencies be communicated in a timely manner.
The process involves using a common online platform, electronic single window for the exchange and submission of trade information and documents by business and the public to the controlling agencies.
Multiple trade declarations are consolidated into single declaration and submitted electronically to multiple agencies for approval and decision-making automatically. This will facilitate legitimate trade and reduce the cost of doing business in the country.
To ensure the business community gains a better understanding of how BDNSW works, and how it benefits businesses in terms of reducing the time and cost associated with trade, RCED has conducted several briefings and roadshows across all four districts, either conducted by the Ministry of Finance or agencies such as DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) targeting mainly the micro, small and media enterprises that are interested in exploring business opportunities in the future.
RCED is looking into further enhancement of the BDNSW through the implementation of auto-approval for import and export of normal goods.
By December of last year, 10,546 out of 13,591 declarations had been auto-approved compared to just 5,053 out of 13,771 declarations in November, which is before the auto-approval was implemented.
Further improvements have been made and the recent incorporating of Port Clearance Module in the BDNSW will enable shipping agents to apply for Port Clearance Certificate from BDNSW.
This new enhancement is one of the initiatives to further expedite processes on vessel arrival and departure and also to provide a convenient service to the agent by eliminating physical documents to be submitted to four government agencies, namely Ports, Marine, Royal Customs and Excise and the Ministry of Health.
With BDNSW providing international open communication standards, the trading community in Brunei Darussalam will be able to exchange data in a secure and reliable manner with any other trading partners not just within Asean but also non- Asean trading partners that use the same standards.
It also ensures a simpler and faster processing time, a more transparent way of doing business and enhance productivity, efficiency and competitiveness. (Ministry of Finance)
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