Single Window Systems
In the OIC Member States
3
all or the majority of the procedures. The others often duplicate paper and electronic
procedures and documents.
Recommendations for Successful Single Window Initiatives in OIC Member States
The numbers of Single in OIC member States has significantly grown in the last seven years
and is likely to continue to increase. This is driven by expectations of efficiency gains for the
administration and traders, IT evolutions that offer better connectivity, and international
commitments. But not all Single Windows fully deliver the potential value. They duplicate
instead of simplify procedures; they do not integrate with other IT systems, and they focus on
customs clearance relevant documents instead of the supply chain.
Single Windows that contribute to trade facilitation have well performing end-to-end services
that cover a large array of trade related processes from government licenses, to joint
inspections, and control of the physical movement of goods, remove paper from processing
and connect to external IT systems such as the Customs or Port Management systems.
Single Windows are long-term transformations and OIC Member States have to overcome
many obstacles at the organizational, technical and strategic level. Appropriate policy and
management choices can help overcoming these challenges and it is important.
The Single Window efforts in OIC Member States should be further encourage keeping in mind
the following recommendations that result from this study.
1. Mobilise sufficient resources and time to develop skills and knowledge prior and
during the development of a Single Window and invest into continuous training.
2. Mobilise a culture and behaviour that support the changes of the Single Window
3. Emphasize process simplification from a supply chain and not a single organization
perspective and integrate automatic decision-making
4. Improve measurement and transparency of real costs and benefits of Single Window
efforts
5. Prioritise flexibility, scalability, safety and interoperability of the IT architecture of
Single Window systems
Trend toward Regionalisation of Single Window
Finally, the past years has seen a growing attention to cross-border exchange of information
and regional Single Window initiatives. As only few OIC Member States currently engage in
such initiatives, cooperation can be advanced at the sub-regional level and can be embedded in
on-going regional economic integration processes. OIC Member States with Single Windows
can be encouraged to launch pilot projects of exchange of data and share their lessons learned.
And finally, OIC Member States can promote a common legal framework for the recognition of
e-signature and e-documents and the protection of data.