About ASEAN Single Window

Introduction

The ASEAN Single Window (ASW) connects and integrates the National Single Windows (NSW) of ASEAN Member States (AMS) to exchange electronic trade-related documents. The system enables a single submission of data, a single synchronous processing of information and a single decision-making for Customs release and clearance among AMS and participating countries.

ASW is the environment that provides the secure information technology (IT) architecture and legal framework that will allow trade, transport, and commercial data to be exchanged electronically among government agencies and private sectors. ASW aims to expedite the cargo clearance process, reduce cost and time of doing business, and enhance trade efficiency and competitiveness.

*Other Government Agencies

Scope and status of the ASW

The ratification of the Protocol on the Legal Framework to Implement the ASW (PLF) has enabled the live operation of the ASW among ASEAN Member States. In 2021, AMS have exchanged more than 900,000 of the ATIGA e-Form D through ASW. This helps traders to reduce paperwork and trade transaction costs, and subsequently expedite the cargo clearance.

ASEAN is now working on the exchange of other trade-related documents among AMS, including:

• ASEAN Customs Declaration Document (ACDD): the exchange of this document has started since December 2020 among Cambodia, Myanmar, and Singapore. Malaysia and Thailand joined in 2021 while the Philippines joined in January 2022. The remaining AMSs are expected to join the live operation within 2022;
• Electronic Phytosanitary (e-Phyto) Certificate: the exchange of this document is targeted in Q3 2022 by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand; and
• Electronic Animal Health (e-AH) and Electronic Food Safety (e-FS) certificates are under the discussion.

To expand the scope of the ASW, AMSs are discussing with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States focusing on the exchange of electronic Certificate of Origin (e-CO), electronic Phytosanitary (e-Phyto) certificate, and Customs Declaration Information.

The ASW Outreach Programmes

Public outreach activities were conducted through a numbers of events organised by the ASEAN Secretariat in collaboration with the USAID project, namely i) the ASEAN Connectivity through Trade and Investment project (US-ACTI); and ii) ASEAN-USAID IGNITE, such as:

The ASW Symposiums:

1. The 1st Symposium on the ASEAN Single Window and National Single Windows, was held in September 2012, Jakarta, Indonesia;
2. The 2nd Symposium on the ASEAN Single Window and National Single Windows, was held in November 2015, Singapore, which aimed to provide opportunities for AMS officials and private sectors in discussing the development and raise awareness about the implementation of ASW;
3. The 3rd ASW Symposium: Current Impact and Future Opportunities, was held in June 2018, Singapore, which aimed to facilitate broad discussion with private sector regarding the recent development and future plan for the ASW;
4. The 4th ASW Symposium: The Way Forward was held in June 2019, in Bangkok, Thailand, which aimed to strengthen engagement with the private sector on promotion of the ASW and possible expansion to other trade-related documents, moving beyond the existing exchange of the ATIGA e-Form D; and
5. The 5th ASW Symposium: Marking Achievements and Pursuing Progress for the Future was held in August 2021 as virtual conference, and noted the concerns raised by the private sector on the need for a sunset clause for the issuance of hardcopy ATIGA Form D.

Other events:

1. Regional Workshop on ASW Gateway Software Training, in 16-17 March 2016, Singapore, the purpose of this workshop was to ensure that the trainees could utilize the key administrative, monitoring and troubleshooting functions required to competently operate the ASW Gateway Software;
2. Electronic Sanitary and Phytosanitary (e- SPS) Data Harmonization Workshop, in 23-24 November 2016, Bangkok, Thailand, which aimed to provide a better understanding to the Member States on the technical requirements in developing and facilitating the exchange of the e-SPS certificates in the ASW;
3. The workshop on Risk Management and Pre-Arrival Customs Clearance, in May 2018, Yangon, Myanmar, which aimed to discuss on possible use of ASW platform to introduce risk management techniques to support pre-arrival Customs clearance in the region by using Single Window data; and
4. ASEAN and USAID Workshop on Exchanging Fisheries Catch Documentation and Traceability Information through the ASW: Benefits and Costs, in June 2019, in Bangkok, Thailand; and
5. The virtual workshop on ASEAN Single Window and e-Phyto Certificate, in 18-19 January 2021, which aimed to align the data structure of ASEAN e-Phyto certificate with the latest version of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) e-Phyto Guideline.

The ASW symposium is an annual outreach programme for the private sectors and ASEAN Dialogue Partners. For further information, the ASW brochure is available through this link.