LOCAL exporters could, within the next two years, benefit from an online interface system designed to significantly reduce burdensome transaction time and cost involved in the process of moving commercial goods overseas.

In a keynote address yesterday at the launch of the second phase of a ‘one-stop’ facility at Jampro, which will allow exporters to process all required documents at one place, Industry Minister Dr Christopher Tufton said that Government will seriously look at making the process become virtual.

“It’s a positive step (but) it’s not necessarily where we want to go,” said Tufton of Jampro’s new Fast Track Facility.

“I don’t think it should be necessary, given the technology today, for a registered exporter to leave his office in order to apply for and get the neccessary permits in order to be able to conduct a transaction to move his products overseas,” Tufton continued. “It should be online, (involving) filling out the forms, submitting (documents), getting a receipt, paying with your credit card and you’re good to go.”

Tufton added that he is looking to ensure that all ministries of government allow for the virtual interface.

“We have the platform for that to take place, what it requires is management and coordination,” he said.

According to the World Bank’s latest Doing Business report, Jamaica has fallen from 85th to 88th place in the world when it comes to Government red tape. The island had a dismal showing in the “international trade” category, where it reportedly takes 21 days to export a container at a cost of US$1,410 ($121,000).

“We have to come to terms with the need that standards can’t be benchmarked against our local knowledge, it has to be benchmarked against international expectations and international established principles and modes of operating,” declared Tufton, adding “You are not good when you are a leader in your marketplace, you’re good when you become a player within a global market context.”

The Fast Track Facility provides exporters with access to select services of seven key public sector organisations involved in the trade facilitation process, allowing the businesspersons to conduct export-related transactions in the convenience of Jampro’s offices in Kingston and Montego Bay. The public sector partners are The Trade Board; Jamaica Customs Department; Bureau of Standards Jamaica; Companies Office of Jamaica; Jamaica Intellectual Property Office; Ministry of Agriculture (Plant Quarantine, Veterinary Services Division); and the National Environment Planning Agency.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” remarked Richard Catling, who recently used the facility. Catling is CFO of Magwall Jamaica, a local manufacturer of MagWall magnesium oxide structural insulated panels.

Jampro president Sancia Templer said the Fast Track Facility is one of the initiatives under the National Export Strategy (NES) intended to grow local exports, struggling against the background of the global recession.

“The NES is very important as we seek to get that momentum and that thrust to grow exports,” said Templer.

She outlined three elements that are imperative for export growth and have been identified as key areas of focus under the NES: capacity-building, promotion and market segmentation, and market access.

Jamaica Exporters’ Association (JEA) Marjory Kennedy welcomed the initiatives under the NES and reaffirmed the association’s commitment to the programme.

“The JEA sees the NES as an important vehicle to realise the important objectives of increasing the performance of the non-traditional export sector, enhancing the contribution of the sector to the development of the Jamaican economy, expanding all existing export markets and penetrating new and emerging markets,” said Kennedy.