The Foreign Trade Facilitation Project is the outcome of a number of deliberations between the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Technology and the exporting community. In these discussions, exporters detailed the numerous procedural difficulties resulting in high transaction costs that they experienced in moving products to foreign destinations.  These discussions resulted in the creation of a Trade Facilitation Board whose mandate was to identify strategies and actions to address the concerns of the exporting community. The Trade Facilitation Board recommended that a study on trade facilitation issues to be undertaken by the Policy and Projects Unit of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Technology.

The principal objective of the Foreign Trade Facilitation Study was to agree on a detailed plan for the rationalization and streamlining of Jamaican Export Trade Procedures. This plan should reflect detail analysis and consultation and agreement with the key stakeholders. This objective was pursued through the following actions:

• Detailed flow chart of all procedures relating to all major categories of export.

• Analysis of the various forms and documentation being used in export and propose changes necessary to their alignment to international standards.

• Review of relevant legislation and identify changes necessary to streamline the process.

• Convene a series of consultative workshops with Senior Officials of designated public sector entities so as to arrive at a general agreement in respect of:

  • new streamlined procedures for exports and process times.

  • new foreign trade documentation (forms) based on international standards.

  • proposed changes to relevant legislation.

  • list of issues relating to the successful completion of the above-mentioned
    task.

  • advice on the feasibility of establishing a US Customs Pre-clearance facility on the port.

The Governance Network conducted the study and its recommendations and implementation plan addressed the following areas: