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| Sunday, 21 July 2002 |
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eCommerce Gateway gets going The National eCommerce Gateway project was launched by the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs in partnership with GE Global eXchange Services (GXS) and BC Computers Ltd. last week. The agreement was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and BC Computers. A new company, eServices Lanka, was formed to operate the eCommerce gateway. It is a joint venture between the government, which owns 40 per cent, and the private sector, which will bear the entire cost of the project amounting to US$ 3 million. The Finance Ministry, Port Development and Shipping Ministry and Enterprise Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion Ministry are also involved in the project, which will be implemented in four phases. The first phase will get under way in August. It will be fully operational by January 2003. The eCommerce Gateway would help improve competitiveness of fast track clearance for exporters and importers; enhance the positioning of the country as a regional logistics hub through efficiencies in turnaround time for the Port, Customs, freight forwarders and shipping lines; and revolutionise the external trade cycle. "The new project, a first in the SAARC region, was a long felt need," said Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Ravi Karunanayake. The US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Ashley Wills said the project will give Sri Lanka a competitive advantage over other countries. He said that Minister Karunanayake wanted to achieve the best at the lowest cost possible which he described as good governance. A state-of-the-art eCommerce hub or eGateway, incorporating the latest EDI/XML technologies with a 24-hour, seven-day availability, would be set up to facilitate electronic document interchange, providing trade facilitation to importers and exporters. The Customs Department, Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT), Cargo Village, Board of Investment (BoI), Textile Quota Board (TQB) and other government bodies will initially be connected for electronic clearance through the on-line submission of the Customs Declaration Form (CUSDEC). It would also create further gateways to various government departments, ministries and authorities and finally to banks for electronic payment. GXS, servicing 60 per cent of the Fortune 500 companies, is the primary technology partner in the project. It will be responsible for the supply of key software components and technology transfer to its local counterpart, BC Computers, which implements the project. GXS has an impressive track record of implementing similar projects in the region. It has successfully implemented the Electronic Visa System (ELVIS) for the TQB. BC Computers, the project sponsor, is an IT partner with 20 years experience in providing large scale IT solutions for the banking, financial, government and trade sectors. It is a member of the Bartleet Group. Sri Lanka Customs plays a key role in this project in processing the electronically submitted Customs Declaration. |
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