TTBizLink launches new e-service

In delivering the feature address at the launch, Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon spoke of the benefits the new Mobile Inspection Service will bring regarding the import clearance process.

She said ‘this application will complete the loop in the digitization of Import Declarations processing by the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards; Plant Quarantine Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; and the Food and Drugs Inspectorate under the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division of the Ministry of Health. It eliminates the need for paper documents during inspections and increases efficiency due to the instantaneous decisions being sent via mobile devices.’ Minster Gopee- Scoon elaborated on the initiatives being undertaken by the Ministry to facilitate trade and build export capacity and competitiveness.

She stated that the Ministry of Trade and Industry intends to continue the rollout of new e-services and other solutions to enhance the trade facilitation environment in Trinidad and Tobago.

She said ‘we have begun to collaborate with the Customs and Excise Division to implement a modern risk management system which is intended to, among other things, reduce the volume of cargo chosen for inspection.

In addition, we intend to implement a Multi-modal Logistics Module which will allow data to be shared among the main Ports of entry/exit’.

Senator Avinash Singh, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries expressed pleasure with the collaboration and the launch of the new e-service. He said, “this launch is an indication of the solutions that can be had by using technology to make business easier and improve efficiencies.” Dr Clive Tilluckdharry, Principal Medical Officer, Ministry of Health, in addressing the audience, said that the launch of the Mobile Inspection Service will allow for increased accuracy and effectiveness of the Ministry of Health’s monitoring mechanisms as Inspectors will be able to update custom entries instantaneously and officers attached to the Chemistry Food and Drug Division will be able to track containers on site, reducing the waiting time for review and approvals.

Norris Herbert, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry in his welcome remarks indicated that, ‘as the Government moves towards e-services which allow for real-time decisions, greater transparency and lower costs to those in the public and private sectors, TTBizLink will remain a key tool through which we can advance our national economic agenda.’ Mr. Christian Marquez, Single Electronic Window (SE W) Specialist, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) delivered an insightful presentation on the benefits of the Mobile Inspection Service and demonstrated how it will work.

The young, professional and innovative Staff of the Ministry’s TTBizLink Unit, along with their collaborating partners, were applauded for their excellent work and commitment to this project.