“Single Window is defined as a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements”
UN/CEFACT RECOMMENDATION No. 33
Experience of implementing the Odessa Port Community System “Electronic manifest” and other paperless documents was warmly welcomed at the meeting of the Working Group of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) on transport. The meeting was held in late November last year in Izmir in the framework of a series of events that preceded the International Conference on Trade Facilitation in the Black Sea and the Middle East region and a meeting of ministers of transport of the BSEC. Ukrainian delegation was chaired by Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, and Head of Administration Mr Vladimir Kornienko. The port of Odessa was represented by the Head of Tourism, Development and External Relations
O. Fetisenko.
The focus of this BSEC Working Group on Transport meeting was on facilitation of international freight rail and ferry transport in the Black Sea. To achieve the desired goals in this area the countries in recent years at the bilateral level have already attained a solid legal basis. In particular, Ukraine and the Russian Federation, Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia have signed appropriate agreements. However, the creation of a single, universal document (standard rules), valid in all countries of the BSEC would unify and harmonize the existing regulatory framework and, consequently, attract additional volumes to the region.
“Time and money spent on freight largely depend on customs legislation and existing procedures for handling of goods in each country. And in this regard as a positive experience we noted the phased introduction of electronic document management tools at the checkpoints on the Ukrainian border. Specifically it was a project of an electronic document, which is currently implemented by the two parties — SCSU and Odessa Sea Commercial port,” Fetisenko said.
Among other issues discussed at the meeting were the following ones: to strengthen cooperation in trade between the countries of the Black Sea region, Central Asia and the Middle East, further alignment of the parties’ positions according to the Black Sea ring highway, development of ferry services, etc.
Background information. BSEC (Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation) is an intergovernmental organization consisting of 12 Black Sea and the southern Balkans states. It was established on 01 May 1999 on the basis of the Treaty on the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, 25.06.1992. The headquarters is located in Istanbul
