Single Window Systems
In the OIC Member States
119
continuity is one of the most important aspects of the Single Window System. For
ensuring the high availability and business continuity, the IT infrastructure of Single
Window Systems needs to be design to be protected from human and natural disasters
with a fault tolerant system and off-site data backup.
5.4.2 Promote (sub)-regional cooperation
For many years, Single Windows systems were national efforts. Regional Single Window
efforts and cross border data exchange have only recently begun to take off80. Such initiatives
will continue to advance but have not become mainstream yet. The study shows that only few
OIC Member States engage in such initiatives.
Pressure to strengthen cross-border initiatives is growing from two sides: the globalization of
production; and security initiatives. The business sector is already operating global supply
chains and the freight forwarding and transport industry operates worldwide logistics
networks and chains. They exchange data and information across borders amongst the supply
chain and logistics chain partners and seek further facilitation at border crossing and clearing
points. Security initiatives launched by governments worldwide pushes cross-border data
exchange for risk and compliance management at an unprecedented level.
Cross-border interconnectivity and interoperability of the national Single Window Systems in
the OIC Region should be promoted in view of cross-border exchange of information and
establishing Regional Single Windows. This should keep in mind the following
recommendations:
1. Advance cooperation at the sub-regional level and embed it into on-going regional
economic integration processes
At this stage, cross-border Single Window cooperation cannot involve all 57 OIC Member
States. Instead, cross-border initiatives can be encouraged on the regional and sub-regional
level amongst OIC Member States that operate a Single Window-se
Such sub-regional initiatives can encompass OIC Member States belonging to regional
economic integration processes. This includes
 Six of the African group Member countries that belong to the Western African
Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU),
 Three of the Asian Group Member countries that belong to ASEAN; and
 Five of Arab group countries that belong to the Gulf Cooperating Council (GCC).
 Two of the Arab group countries belong to the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) 81 .
80 Both the ASEAN and EU SW were planned 2006/2007 but the implementatation was delayed
81 The AMU integration process is considered to be dormant