Single Window Principle Service to Be Introduced at Georgian Ports

In 2019-2020, in order to further develop Georgia’s transit potential, a single window service will be introduced at Georgian ports.

This will provide digital government services in the port sector and free the ships from bureaucratic barriers and processing on unnecessary documentation. The presentation of the project was held at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Natia Turnava and the USA Chargé D’Affaires, Elizabeth Rood, as well as the representatives of the ship-owning and shipping companies and the management of the Georgian ports participated in the meeting.

It was noted at the meeting that the LEPL Maritime Transport Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia has developed a project, the initial phase of which implied the feasibility study funded by the US Embassy in Georgia. The first stage also involves the inventory of all the maritime services and the analysis of the ways of reducing the existing bureaucracy procedures while the second stage involves development and launching of the software.

“The most important component of Georgia’s European integration process is the integration of the trade sector into a European single window system, which will give Georgia a strategic advantage,” – the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Natia Turnava commented. In assessing the project, the Minister noted that it would help to increase freight capacity at ports and would also allow Georgian ports to plan cargo schedules in advance by category and volume for the regularly transporting cargo ships.