President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), Harry Maragh (at mike) explains aspects of the SAJ project to re-engineer cargo importation, which is being financed by the United States Agency for International Development/New Economy Project (USAID/NEP). The occasion was a forum on Tuesday (May 27) at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston to update stakeholders on the progress of the project. Others from left are Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell, Ambassador Mosina Jordan, Head of Mission for USAID, and Michael Julian, Chief of Party for NEP. IMPORTERS SHOULD enjoy smoother processing of import cargo as a result of the Shipping Association of Jamaica's (SAJ) cargo importation re-engineering project, now under way to improve processes and increase automation and access to computer-based systems for receipt and delivery procedures at the Port of Kingston.
Speaking at a seminar last Tuesday (May 27), President of the Shipping Association of Jamaica, Harry Maragh, said under the initiative, which began last year, customer service would be enhanced and the time for the processing of import cargo reduced by at least 30 per cent. The SAJ is spearheading the project with funding from the United States Agency for International Development under its New Economy Project (USAID/NEP).
SAJ convened the seminar under the theme 'Bridging the Gaps and Joining the Dots' at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston in collaboration with the funding partners to update stakeholders on the progress of the project. Also participating were Commerce, Science and Technology Minister, Phillip Paulwell; USAID's Head of Mission, Ambassador Mosina Jordan as well as representatives of the NEP, Fiscal Services, Port Computer Services and Kingston Wharves Limited. Special overseas guests were Charles Wilkinson and Alan Long of Maritime Cargo Processing, the leading port community systems specialist company in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Maragh noted important achievements including "quick hit" improvements, which resulted in the placement of a 'mail box' at the wharf entrance to facilitate the receipt and processing of manifests outside of normal work hours, particularly on the week-end. Observing that the project was in the second phase, he explained that phase one included 'Best Practice' visits by a local team to ports in Panama and Mexico, while phase three would be the implementation of accepted recommendations emerging from the earlier stages.
The project is expected to bring about improvements to benefit importers as well as shipping lines and agents; consolidators and freight forwarders; customs brokers; hauliers and Jamaica Customs.
In his comments, Minister Paulwell lauded the SAJ for initiating the project and mentioned the far-reaching benefits for the shipping industry, and in particular, cargo importation through the Port, which is being positioned to move more than 1.5 million containers by the third quarter of next year. Citing government's significant investment in the Kingston Container Terminal and the competitive nature of the shipping business, he said Jamaica's ability to compete would "require not only the utilisation of modern and efficient cargo handling equipment, but also the application of cutting edge information and communication technology".
"An important link must therefore be development between transshipment facilities and the IT sector," observing that that current developments in containerised shipping demanded that the process be driven by advanced technology in order to compete with the major players in the global industry.
While commending the SAJ for taking "a bold step" to start the project, Ambassador Jordan said the project was critical as it involved a wide cross-section of stakeholders. She said the Agency was pleased to be involved with the project.
"We agreed to support these initiatives, as it seemed clear that there was a broad consensus and solid support from the stakeholders. We understood the large and direct potential impact of all businesses in Jamaica both large and small of improvements in the efficiency and speed of import and export handling. Imports through Port Bustamante are valued at over $2.5 billion comprising almost 75 per cent of total import into the island," Ambassador Jordan said.
