Guce-Gie

What are the missions and duties of the Single Window for Foreign Trade Operations? Duties of the One-Stop Shop In the course of a seminar held at Limbe in 1997, business operators and Cameroonian authorities reviewed and examined the formalities to be fulfilled at the Douala Port for both importation and exportation of goods. Their deliberations revealed lengthy delays and attendant costs that did not only undermine the local economy, but diverted traffic towards other seaports. This observation was equally confirmed at the November 1997 roundtable conference on the National Ports Authority of Cameroon. In agreement with donor organisations (notably the European Union), the Cameroonian authorities assigned the International Sea Traffic Facilitation Committee (dubbed FAL Committee) to brainstorm and provide institutional, organisational and regulatory solutions aimed at cutting down costs and time in the fulfilment of import and export formalities. Two deadlines were set as objectives, namely:* Two (02) days for exportation;* Seven (07) days for importation. The missions of the One-Stop Shop consist in - Ensuring the continuity of business transactions- Minimising risks and time loss by grouping together all import/export stakeholders in the same area- Speeding up the processing of documents- Optimising the benefits of computerised data exchange- Informing operators on the nature and scope of procedures.