A protocol for a Single Port Window to facilitate trade was signed in Lobito (Benguela), Angola, this week by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, the International Maritime Organization and the Port of Lobito.
The digital platform aims to speed up commercial activity between ports and their partners. Largely, it aims to facilitate the processing of goods clearance in that unit of the transport sector.
The protocol was signed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore's deputy director, Gavin Yao, by the International Maritime Organization’s, Martina Fontanet, and by the Port of Lobito's chairman of the Board, Celso Rosas.
The signatories took part in the functionality test of the platform, in a quality environment, during the week of November 13 to 17.
Speaking to journalists, Martina Fontanet said that this project would help other countries to improve international maritime transport.
"The test went very well and we hope it will be up and running as soon as possible," he said.
In turn, the administrator for Angola’s National Maritime Agency, Mara Neto, called it a "historic moment" that Angola was the country chosen, from among several competitors, to implement the pilot project.
"We started working at the time of Covid-19 with technicians from the Ministry of Transport, the Port of Lobito, the General Tax Administration and shipping agents," she explained.
After the test in Lobito, the project will be extended to the other Angolan ports.
