SVG government signs ESWIFT contract with the UNCTAD

Progress is being made by the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines in its quest to establish an Electronic Single Window for Trade Facilitation (ESWIFT) under the Digital Transformation Project.

On Friday, November 17, the government through the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, and Information Technology signed a contract with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for the implementation of the ESWIFT.

Under this contract, UNCTAD and the Government have agreed to cooperate in the area of business facilitation, by establishing an Electronic Single Window for Trade Facilitation in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The ESWIFT will provide greater efficiency through reliable digital services that seek to ensure higher compliance, transparency, and ease of doing business relevant to the import and export of goods into and out of the country.

The implementation of the ESWIFT is expected to cost the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, US$2,338,400. The system is expected to be fully implemented by June 2026.

The contract was signed by the Director General of Finance and Planning, Edmond Jackson, on behalf of the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines, while Vinod Nair, Officer-in-Charge, Programme Support and Management Service, signed on behalf of UNCTAD.

The Digital Transformation Project began in 2020 and is designed to integrate modern technology across all government sectors and services, enhancing efficiency, transparency, and engagement between the public and private sectors, and local and regional communities. The project is expected to be completed in 2026.