PRESIDENT OF the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), Harry Maragh, has described the Jamaica Trade Point as a useful medium to boost trade in today's technologically-driven globalised business
environment.
Mr. Maragh, who was speaking at the launch of the Trade Point at the Terra Nova Hotel last Tuesday, said the shipping association became a partner in the Trade Point Project because the association recognised its significance to trade. The SAJ is one of the core partners of the Trade Point, which aims to make businesses more competitive and to facilitate trade on-line.
Jamaica Trade Point is Jamaica's trade facilitation portal, where exporters and importers can carry out trade-related transactions with the relevant organisations on-line and in a seamless manner. The services also offer the convenience of on-line payment for customs duties and user fees. In the initial phase, Jamaica Trade Point includes the on-line processing of customs import and export forms (C78 and C82); trade board's applications for licenses and export certification; JAMPRO's Exporter Registration System.
A major benefit from the shipping industry's perspective is that users of the ports, from shipping lines to customers, will be able to go on-line and obtain all the relevant information applicable to the government bodies involved in trade, for example, Customs, Trade Board and JAMPRO. Persons will be able to obtain banking and insurance information and business information. Electronic manifests will be located on the site, and the port community system, which the SAJ is adopting, will also be on-line.
"This will result in making our ports, initially the port of Kingston, more efficient and therefore more attractive to existing and potential investors. The SAJ and the Port Authority of Jamaica are striving to make the port more secure and to increase its usage," the SAJ president said.
"Not only will this kind of development save costs and accelerate the decision making process, but it will create more opportunities for Jamaican businesses and through these kinds of partnerships, we will show to the world that Jamaica is in a state of readiness for doing business with the international community," he observed.
Mr. Maragh also mentioned that the improved security of local borders and the establishment of a port community system for which a feasibility study was just completed by Maritime Cargo Processors in the United Kingdom, would help to make Jamaica more attractive to its international trading partners.
He commended JAMPRO and gave the assurance of the association's continued support.
