Six months into one of the largest ever project roll-outs in the country aimed at facilitating international trade, project owner MCNet (1) has expressed its satisfaction with the professionalism of service provider Internet Solutions (IS) Mozambique.
"IS Mozambique's reliability, transparency, 24/7 technical back-up and monitoring support of our backbone are fundamental factors that allow us to deliver a top-class product," says SGS MCNet Managing Director, Nigel Gregory. "Following the successful implementation of the first phase of our project, we are now ready for the roll-out of Phase 2."
MCNet is the operator of "Single Electronic Window" (SeW), SADC's first comprehensive customs clearance system aimed at facilitating international trade. The SeW integrates with any system used in the foreign trade process, to reduce clearance times and costs.
"A reliable network link is crucial to ensure our massive operation runs smoothly," Gregory explained. "Reliability, redundancy and a stable connection are core dynamics for our implementation and service delivery, and its mere nature requires uninterrupted continuity."
An electronic solution customised to take account of the conditions pertaining in the Mozambique business environment, the SeW ensures data required for imports and exports is submitted only once and is then electronically distributed to the relevant government agencies negating the need for stakeholders to make numerous submissions and/or requests.
"In tailor-making the system for Mozambique, we wanted to establish a robust infrastructure with redundant power supply and communication to ensure continuous and efficient customs services. IS was awarded the tender because its offering was the only one that met all the requisites and we are pleased to report that IS has accomplished all it has promised," Gregory added. IS and MCNet both have a data centre where the 52 customs sites and sub-sites are continuously monitored to ensure downtime is minimal. MCNet has also trained more than 4 000 users nationwide to ensure individuals understand their respective usage of SeW.
"We are proud to be associated with MCNet, and are looking forward to giving our support during the remainder of MCNet's 15 years concession," says IS Mozambique CEO, Hermann Woithe. "In view of Mozambique's rapid economic development and competitiveness in the global market, it is imperative to implement systems that will enhance the development of import and export trade."
The first phase of the SeW project was aimed at maritime ports, land borders and customs cargo terminals. The second phase of the project has just started with the processing of customs declarations for transit regime by the SeW, as well as expanding the use of the system to other international cargo terminals.
Originally developed in Singapore by Crimsonlogic, the system observes the best practices and international standards established by the UN recommendations and the Revised Kyoto Convention. Though used all over the world, including Africa, Mozambique is the first SADC country currently implementing the SeW. Delegations of other member countries, including Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia Botswana, DRC and Gabon, have visited Mozambique recently to study the implementation and operation of the product.
(1) Mozambique Community Network (MCNet), is a public private partnership created in 2009, with the main objective to facilitate international trade and enhance the business environment in Mozambique with innovative solutions designed to facilitate international trade.
IS Mozambique was formed in 2009 when IS and Convergence Wireless Networks acquired a majority equity stake in leading Mozambican Internet service provider (ISP), INTRA Lda. Established in 2001, INTRA was one of the first wireless broadband ISPs in Maputo, and as a leader in this field, carries with it a wealth of local market knowledge.
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