Barbados Port Inc. is implementing the “Barbados Port Community System Project.” This is a €540,258 project, partially financed by the European Union and supervised by the Caribbean Development Bank to design and implement a Port Community System (PCS) at the Port of Bridgetown. The project which is scheduled to be completed in 2023 supports the creation of an online system accessible to clients of the port and various state agencies involved in the processing and clearance of cargo (PCS). It will introduce a paperless process making interoperable the systems of organisations involved in processing shipments at the port. Greater efficiency, a reduction in operating costs and a more sustainable approach to management of port operations will be enabled.
Supported by external consultants at the Organisation of American States (OAS) and in collaboration with the port stakeholders, some of the expected outcomes included:
Globally PCSs are recognised as a key tool in transformation, digitalisation and increasing trade competitiveness. By simplifying the procedure for trade across borders, the innovation simplifies complex manual processes and operationalises the process for release, delivery and clearing of cargo containers through process simplification, integration and harmonisation. This intervention which includes diverse interests from agents and shipping lines, customs and excise to those involved in logistics and freight forwarding, other government agencies, terminal and warehouse operations will also aid Barbados in fulfilling international obligations under the World Trade Organisation Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) (1967).
The Barbados PCS Project was approved for implementation by the EPA and CSME Standby Facility Steering Committee in 2020. The EPA and CSME Standby Facility (also known as the CARIFORUM-European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Standby Facility for Capacity Building) is a €8.75 million programme financed by the European Development Fund (EDF) and managed by CDB to support projects in Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago (CARIFORUM). It is intended to build capacity in the region and better position businesses to trade within CARIFORUM and the European Union.
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