Male’, Maldives (30 November – 4 December 2014)

At the request of the Government of the Republic of Maldives, the World Customs Organization conducted a National Single Window Workshop in Male’, Maldives from 30 November to 4 December 2014.

The event, funded by the Customs Co-operation Fund (CCF)/ Japan and facilitated by an expert from the WCO Secretariat, together with an officer from Japan Customs, was attended by 30 participants from the Maldives Customs Service, and relevant partner agencies like the Ministry of Economic Development, the Maldives National Defense Force, the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority, the Maldives Health Protection Agency, the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture, the Maldives Transport Authority, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Maldives Airports Company Limited and the Maldives Ports Limited.

The opening ceremony was graced by Minister of Economic Development, Honorable Mohamed Saeed, and Commissioner-General of Customs, Mr. Ahmed Zuhoor, attesting to the extremely high priority that that Maldivian Government had set for the establishment of a national single window environment.

Over the course of the 5 day workshop, participants received instructions highlighting the importance of Coordinated Border Management as the foundation for the establishment of a Single Window Environment, and through discussion and group activities, learnt about the ways to undertake important tasks necessary for the establishment of a national single window environment, including initial functional assessment, business process analysis and data harmonization.

The event generated new understanding between the different partner agencies and stakeholders and provided participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to support the country’s national single window implementation.