Awareness Training on “Applying for Import & Export Permit on National Single Window (NSW) of Cambodia for Manufacturers and Pharmaceuticals”

Phnom Penh, 11 May 2023 – The awareness training on “Applying for Import & Export Permit on National Single Window (NSW) of Cambodia for Manufacturers and Pharmaceuticals” was successfully conducted on 9-10 May 2023.

The full-day training, that aimed at increasing the uptake of the NSW among the private sector traders of the Ministry of Health (MoH), was co-organized by the MoH and ARISE Plus Cambodia, in collaboration with the NSW Secretariat and GUUD – the vendor of the IT platform.

Presided over by Her Excellency Or Vandine, the MoH Secretary of State, His Excellency PHA EngVeng, GDCE Deputy Director General and Chair of NSW Secretariat, and Ms. Cristina Novio Garcia, Program Manager of Trade, Private Sector and Energy of the European Union Delegation to Cambodia, the training was attended by over 150 participants from 70 pharmaceutical manufacturers and trading companies.

During the training, participants were familiarized with the NSW and its intended benefits, the system usage, as well as the legal/regulatory compliance requirements for the import and export permits of the MoH. Current private sector users shared their experiences on using the NSW instead of paper-based procedures and their perceived benefits.  

His Excellency PHA EngVeng emphasized that the NSW is one of the Government’s key priorities to accelerate the implementation of country's commitments under its international trade agreements, notably the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) and the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

“The NSW implementation is our obligation, along with other member countries, under the WTO TFA framework and we set our commitment to fully implement the system by the timeframe of 2023-2025, as per our notification tothe WTO”, he said.

He also highlighted the benefits of the NSW as a trade facilitating system that allows authorities and traders to provide and receive licenses, certificates, permits and other documents in an electronic format for the import and export process. He pointed out: the NSW will facilitate faster and more transparent international trade procedures, reduce costs and ensure that the entire process is consistent and transparent, from the outset of the regulatory requirements to the clearance of goods.

During the opening remark, Her Excellency Or Vandine stated that the Cambodian government has urged all government ministries and institutions to foster the digitalization in accordance with the strategic plan and policy of the Digital Government of Cambodia 2022-2035. “Therefore, the MoH has started its implementation of the NSW since 2019 and has continuously updated the system”, she said.

Her Excellency outlined the importance of this training and that it will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of using the NSW system in applying for import and export permits of medicines, medical equipment and other health products. “The application for import and export through this system can provide services quickly and easily without the use of paper, which can reduce both cost and time for companies”, she added. Her Excellency hopes that after this training, the NSW will be fully implemented and widely used by the private sector.

Both Her Excellency Or Vandine and His Excellency PHA EngVeng called for participation from relevant stakeholders to make full use of the system and cooperate with one another to ensure a successful implementation.

Among other experience-sharing users, Ms. KONG Vireak Setha, a representative from Pharma Product Manufacturing (PPM), shared that using the MoH NSW made the process of the company’s request for import-export permits easier and faster. “Among others benefits, the request process, through this online solution, can be completed in less time and each step can be easily followed up so that the permit is being released quicker”, she said.  

The NSW was launched in 2019 and is being implemented in phases. At the end of phase II, the system onboarded 6 relevant government agencies. The third phase was just commenced in early 2023 and is expected to be completed at the end of the year. This phase III implementation is aimed at expanding its coverage by the inclusion of the remaining ministries and agencies with mandates to process and issue related documents prior to customs clearance.

Co-funded by the European Union (EU)and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the ARISE Plus Cambodia project supports this initiative as part of its key activities to support the Cambodian government in implementing its trade facilitation commitments under the WTO TFA and to support better connectivity and economic integration between the country and the rest of ASEAN.

Check out more about the NSW: https://nsw.gov.kh

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For further information, please contact:

Mr. Sok Kha, Trade Facilitation Advisor

Email: kha.sok@giz.de

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