COMCEC Trade Outlook 2017
55
TheWorking Group has come up with the following policy recommendations in order to address
the challenges faced by the Member Countries regarding the border agency cooperation:
 Promoting the adoption of international standards in customs and other relevant cross
border trade and logistics matters as well as accession to the relevant international
conventions for harmonizing and simplifying rules and procedures related to the cross
border trade and logistics operations,
 Promoting mutual recognition arrangements/agreements for border controls and
trusted traders,
 Enhancing information exchange among the border agencies of the Member Countries
through enhancing connectivity of information and communication technology systems,
providing regular knowledge exchange platforms and participating in relevant
international networks,
 Improving the infrastructure of land border crossing points and transport connectivity
through the joint efforts of the neighboring countries e.g. through establishing joint
technical/working committees, which include relevant stakeholders to identify the
factors which cause bottlenecks.
Finally, the 9th Meeting of the Trade Working Group has elaborated on an important instrument
of trade facilitation, which is Single Window Systems. The TWG has convened on March 9 th,
2017, in Ankara, Turkey with the theme of “ SingleWindow Systems in the OICMember Countries.”
During the Meeting, the participants deliberated on the conceptual framework, global practices
and trends in single windows and the current status of the OIC Member Countries regarding the
implementation of the Single Window Systems.
Single window systems serve as the platforms for the exchange and processing of electronic
information between traders, government agencies, and private operators. The research report
prepared for the meeting highlighted the importance of single window systems for facilitating
trade by offering a single point of contact and single submission for import, export and transit
relevant formalities. The report indicated that, at present, 23 Member Countries have been
benefiting from the single window systems, whereas 4 member countries are in the process of
establishment of a system. Furthermore, 11 member countries have a vision to establish their
single window systems26.
There are major challenges faced by the Member Countries during the initiation and
implementation processes of the single window systems. In this regard, weak quality of
preparatory work, non-implementation of necessary legal and regulatory changes, inflexibility
and lack of interoperability of the systems, and insufficient IT architecture and infrastructure are
some of the main challenges faced in this field. In order to address these challenges, the Working
Group has come up with the following policy recommendations:
 Strengthening Single Window efforts in OIC Member States by developing integrated
Single Window strategies that reflect national and regional requirements and actively
engage the stakeholders in this process
26 COMCEC Coordination Office, 2017a.