Skopje, 15 December 2023 (MIA) -  The Customs Administration is launching an ambitious project to modernize the processes of issuing licenses and permits used in customs clearance, with the aim of facilitating trade, improving the control and security of goods and reducing costs for companies.

"The unique national one-stop-shop system aims to digitize the processes, so that the Macedonian businesses will no longer submit documents to several authorities, and all processes for issuing permits will be carried out in one place. With the establishment of the new national one-stop-shop system, the Macedonian economy will be more competitive on the international market," top officials of the Customs Administration told the third Steering Committee on the Implementation of the New One-Stop-Shop System, which is chaired by Deputy PM for Economic Affairs Fatmir Bytyqi, as cited by the Customs Administration on Friday.

The press release adds that work so far has been focused on aligning the functionalities of the system, and the project will soon be presented to the business community. 

"Participants in the meeting also stressed that the process needs to be carried out at the highest level, with accelerated dynamics by all border institutions, in order to successfully implement the project, which is practically part of the reforms to facilitate trade and encourage growth and employment in the country. The implementation of the system as part of the World Bank project to accelerate transport and trade in the Western Balkans will enable accelerated integration in the EU," reads the press release. 

According to Anastas Mazhenkovski, assistant director at the Department for Information and Communication Systems, the new national one-stop-shop system will enable businesspeople and traders to submit all information and data on import, export and transit in one place instead of several different places, which will save both money and time.

"In this way, the Customs and other border institutions will be able to collectively use data from the system, which will improve mutual cooperation and raise the level of services to the Macedonian economy," adds the press release.

Photo: Customs Administration