联合国亚太经社会（UNESCAP）：尼泊尔国家单一窗口：实现无纸化贸易制度

NepalNationalSingleWindow:

TowardsaPaperlessTradeRegime

PuspaSharmaandKshitizDahal

UnitedNationsNetworkofExpertsforPaperlessTradeandTransportinAsiaandthePacific

WorkingPaper

No.4I2023

TheUnitedNationsNetworkofExpertsforPaperlessTradeandTransportinAsiaandthePacific(UNNExT)isacommunityofknowledgeandpracticeforexpertsfromdevelopingcountriesandtransitioneconomiesfromAsiaandthePacificinvolvedintheimplementationofelectronictradesystemsandtradefacilitation.Thenetworkaimstosupportnational,sub-regionalandtranscontinentalSingleWindowandpaperlesstradeinitiatives,withanemphasisontraining,knowledgesharing,andapplicationofinternationalstandardsthataredevelopedbytheUnitedNationsCentreforTradeFacilitationandElectronicBusiness(UN/CEFACT),theWorldCustomsOrganization,andotherrelevantorganizations.TheUNNExTSecretariatisprovidedbyESCAPincooperationwithUNECE.

TheUNNExTWorkingPaperSeriesdisseminatesthefindingsofworkinprogresstoencouragetheexchangeofideasabouttradefacilitationissues.Anobjectiveoftheseriesistopublishthefindingsquickly,evenifthepresentationsarelessthanfullypolished.UNNExTWorkingPapersareavailableonlineat

/.

AllmaterialintheWorkingPapersmaybefreelyquotedorreprinted,butacknowledgmentisrequestedtogetherwithacopyofthepublicationcontainingthequotationorreprint.TheuseoftheWorkingPapersforanycommercialpurpose,includingresale,isprohibited.

Disclaimer:

ThedesignationsemployedandthepresentationofthematerialinthisWorkingPaperdonotimplytheexpressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartoftheSecretariatoftheUnitedNationsconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,territory,city,orarea,orofitsauthorities,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiersorboundaries.Wherethedesignation“countryorarea”appears,itcoverscountries,territories,cities,orareas.Bibliographicalandotherreferenceshave,whereverpossible,beenverified.TheUnitedNationsbearsnoresponsibilityfortheavailabilityorfunctioningofURLs.Theviewsexpressedinthispublicationarethoseoftheauthor(s)anddonotnecessarilyreflecttheviewsoftheUnitedNations.Theopinions,figuresandestimatessetforthinthispublicationaretheresponsibilityoftheauthor(s)andshouldnotnecessarilybeconsideredasreflectingtheviewsorcarryingtheendorsementoftheUnitedNations.Anyerrorsaretheresponsibilityoftheauthor(s).ThementionoffirmnamesandcommercialproductsdoesnotimplytheendorsementoftheUnitedNations.

©UNNExT2023

iii

WORKINGPAPER

NepalNationalSingleWindow:TowardsaPaperlessTradeRegime

PuspaSharmaandKshitizDahal

Pleasecitethispaperas:

Sharma,P.andDahal,K.(2023).“NepalNationalSingleWindow:TowardsaPaperlessTradeRegime”,UNNExTWorkingPaperSeriesNo.4,September2023,Bangkok,ESCAP.

Availableat

/

iv

TableofContents

ListofTables v

ListofFigures v

1.Introduction 1

2.OverviewoftradefacilitationimplementationinNepal 2

3.Initiatives,policiesandplansdrivingpaperlesstradeinNepal 7

3.1Majorpaperlesstradeinitiatives 7

3.2PoliciesandplansconcerningpaperlesstradeinNepal 8

3.2.1InformationandCommunicationTechnologyPolicy 8

3.2.2DigitalNepalFramework 9

3.2.3CustomsReformandModernizationPlan 10

3.3Legalandtechnicalreadinessandchallenges 12

3.3.1Legalreadinessandchallenges 12

3.3.2Technicalreadinessandchallenges 14

4.PaperlesstradeandNepalNationalSingleWindow 15

4.1Whatisasinglewindow? 15

4.2NepalNationalSingleWindow(NNSW) 15

4.3NNSWandtheshifttopaperlesstradesystem 22

4.4TheproliferatinguseofNNSW 29

4.5Challengesfortheaccelerationofcross-borderpaperlesssystem 31

5.Conclusionandrecommendationsforacceleratingcross-borderpaperless

tradesystem 34

References 39

Annex1:ListofstakeholdersassociatedwithNepalNationalSingleWindow.41

Annex2:DocumentsrequiredforNepal'sinternationaltradeandtheir

paperlessstatus 43

Annex3:Listofstakeholdersconsulted 46

v

ListofTables

Table1:PaperlessTradeinDigitalNepalFramework 9

Table2:AgenciesandcorrespondingLPCOs/processeswithstatusoftheirintegrationinto

NNSWand/orimplementation 16

Table3:SystemsinotherOGAsthathavebeensuccessfullyintegratedintotheNNSWthrough

API 18

Table4:Technicallyreadystakeholders(systemhasbeendeveloped)butnotyetlive 18

Table5:Agencieswheresystemdevelopmentisatalaterstage 20

Table6:Agencieswheresystemdevelopmentispending 21

Table7:ElectronicLPCOsissuedthroughNNSW 26

ListofFigures

Figure1:Nepal'stradefacilitationimplementationovertheyears(2017-2021) 4

Figure2:ImplementationofdigitalandsustainabletradefacilitationmeasuresinNepal,2021

5

Figure3:ImplementationofpaperlesstrademeasuresinNepal,2021 6

Figure4:Implementationofcross-borderpaperlesstrademeasuresinNepal,2021 6

Figure5:UsergrowthinNNSW 29

Figure6:Comparisonofdailyon-lineapplicationforLPCOssubmittedthroughNNSWbefore

andafterCOVID-19lockdown 30

Figure7:Monthlysubmissionstatisticsofe-LPCOs 30

Figure8:MonthlystatisticsonaveragenumberofdaystoapproveanLPCOapplication 31

Figure9:Evolutionarystagesofthedevelopmentofasinglewindow 32

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1.Introduction

Inthepastfewdecades,rapidadvancementsininformationandcommunicationtechnologies(ICT)haveradicallytransformedtheworld.Itisdifficulttofindanareaofthesocietyandeconomy,whethercommercialornon-commercial,thathasnotbeentoucheduponbytheICTrevolution.AnimportantdevelopmentoftheICTrevolutionhasbeenintheareaofdigitalization.Goingdigitalhasbecomethemostimportantprioritytodaygiventhevariousadvantagesofdigitalizationsuchasreductionincostandtime,accessibilityofpeopletoservicesthatwereearlieroutofreachduetogeographicalorotherconstraints,transparency,andgoodgovernance,andsoon.DigitalizationintheareaoftradefacilitationisalsobeingpromotedbyvariousmultilateralandregionalorganizationssuchastheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO)andtheUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(UNESCAP).Severalcountries,mainlytheadvancedones,havemademosttradefacilitationprocessespaperlessasfaraspracticable.

TheWTOTradeFacilitationAgreement(TFA)istheonlymultilateralagreementontradefacilitation.Itenteredintoforceon22February2017.TheTFAcoversalltheimportantaspectsoftradefacilitationandcooperationamongWTOmembers.Amongotherthings,itemphasizeselectronicmeansofcommunicationsandtransactionsfortradefacilitation,suchasadvancelodgingofdocumentsinelectronicformatforpre-arrivalprocessing;electronicpaymentofduties,taxes,fees,andchargesatcustoms;andestablishmentofsinglewindowanduseofICTtooperatethesinglewindowasfaraspracticable.NepalacceptedtheWTOTFAon24January2017.

Similarly,severalorganizationssuchastheWorldBank,AsianDevelopmentBank(ADB),UnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopment(UNCTAD)andUNESCAP,amongothers,havebeenpromotingpaperlesstradeandprovidingtechnicalandotherrequiredsupporttomanycountriesforitsadoption.UNESCAPhasalsobeenrequestingitsmembercountriestosign/accedeto/ratifythe‘FrameworkAgreementonFacilitationofCross-BorderPaperlessTradeinAsiaandthePacific,’whichenteredintoforceon20February2021.AccordingtoUNESCAP’sestimates,fullimplementationofcross-borderpaperlesstradecouldreducetradecostsby10-30percentofexistingtransactioncostsintheAsia-Pacificregion.Nepalisyettosigntheagreement.

Nepalhasbeenmakingefforts,mostlyunilaterally,todigitalizetradeprocessesandcreateapaperlesstraderegime.ItintroducedtheElectronicTransactionsAct(ETA)in2006anditssupportingETARulesin2007thatpavedthewayformanytransactionstobeperformedthroughelectronicmeansinplaceofthetraditional,paper-basedtransactions.Similarly,itprovisionedforandimplementedseveralreformsinrelationtocustoms,includingmakingmanycustomsprocessespaperless,duringthecourse

2

ofimplementingseveraliterationsoftheCustomsReformandModernizationPlan.Ithasalsoidentifiedactionsinthe‘DigitalNepalFramework’thatwouldhelpmaketradeprocessespaperless.Despitetheseefforts,challengesremaininthefullimplementationofpaperlesstradeinNepal,moresoforcross-borderpaperlesstrade,whichhavebeenaptlycoveredinthe‘ReadinessAssessmentforCross-BorderPaperlessTrade:Nepal’conductedbyUNESCAPin2019.

TherehavebeensomedevelopmentsinNepalinrelationtoadvancingtowardsapaperlesstraderegimeduring/aftertheReadinessAssessmentforCross-BorderTradewasundertakenin2019.ThemostimportantofthesehasbeentheprogressmadeintheoperationalizationoftheNepalNationalSingleWindow(NNSW).Hence,whilethisstudydiscussesNepal’seffortsoverallinmovingtowardsapaperless(includingcross-border)traderegime,itmainlyfocusesontheNNSW.Aswewillseelater,advancementsmadewithinNNSWarestillrelatedtodomesticaspectsofpaperlesstrade,andverylittlehasbeenachievedintermsofcross-borderpaperlesstrade.Wediscussthechallengesandoffersomewayforward.

2.OverviewoftradefacilitationimplementationinNepal

AnunfortunatefeatureofNepal'stradelandscapeisitshightradecostandconsequentlylowtrade-competitiveness,primarilybecauseofthepoorstateoftheroadandtransportinfrastructure,adifficultgeographicalterrain,cumbersomeprocedures,andlandlockedgeography.Whilesomefeatureslikelandlockednesscannotbealteredandsomefeaturesliketheweakstateofinfrastructuretakesignificanttimetoovercome,therearetradefacilitationmeasuresthatcanbeundertakenrelativelyfasterandwhichproducesignificantreturns,suchasmeasuresthatcircumventunnecessaryprocessesanddocumentsthroughstreamliningordigitalizingtradeprocessesanddocuments.ThissectionlooksatNepal'sprogressinimplementingtheselatterkindsoftradefacilitationmeasures,basedonthedataproducedbytheUnitedNationsGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation2021(GSDSTF).1

TheGSDSTFcovers58tradefacilitationmeasuresunderfourbroadcategories—generaltradefacilitationmeasures,digitaltradefacilitationmeasures,sustainabletradefacilitationmeasures,andothertradefacilitationmeasures—andthus,goes

1

/

3

beyondtheWTOTFApackageofmeasures(ESCAP,2021).Thesefourbroadgroupsofmeasuresaredividedinto11sub-categories.2

Nepalhasshownsignificantprogressinimplementingtradefacilitationmeasuresovertheyearsinthedifferentcategories(Figure1).Thebiggestimprovementwasseenin2019whenithadimplemented50.5percentofthetradefacilitationmeasurescomparedto34.41percentin2017(Figure1).Further,byimplementing54.8percentofthetradefacilitationmeasuresin2021comparedto50.5percentin2019,Nepalhasmadefurtherprogress,withthelargestimprovementsseenintheareaofinstitutionalarrangement,cross-borderpaperlesstrade,andwomenintradefacilitation.Nepal’sprogresswasslightlybetterthantheaverageoftheleast-developedcountries(LDCs)intheAsia-Pacificregionat52.33percent.

Despitesuchprogress,NepallagsbehindtheprogressintradefacilitationachievedbyotherregionalgroupingssuchasEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP)countries(65.85percent),SouthandSouth-WestAsiacountries(63.12percent),andlandlockeddevelopingcountries(LLDCs)inAsia-Pacific(59.73percent).Nepal’sunderperformanceisparticularlywithregardtotheimplementationof'womenintradefacilitation'measures(11.11percent),'tradefacilitationforSMEs'measures(20percent),andcross-borderpaperlesstrademeasures(22.22percent)(Figure2).Nepal’sperformanceisclosetotheESCAPaveragein'institutionalarrangement'measures(66.67percent)andpaperlesstrademeasures(62.96percent)(Figure2).Nepalhasalsomadedecentprogressintheimplementationoftransparencymeasures(60percent)andformalitiesmeasures(62.5percent),butitlagsbehindcomparatorregionalgroupingswithregardtotheimplementationofthesemeasures(Figure2).

2Generaltradefacilitationmeasuresincludethesub-categories‘transparencymeasures’,‘formalitiesmeasures’,‘institutionalarrangementandcooperationmeasures’,and‘transitfacilitation’.Digitaltradefacilitationmeasuresinclude‘paperlesstrademeasures’and‘cross-borderpaperlesstrademeasures’.Sustainabletradefacilitation

measuresinclude‘tradefacilitationforSMEsmeasures’,‘agriculturetradefacilitationmeasures’and‘womenintradefacilitationmeasures’.Othertradefacilitationmeasures,anewsub-categoryaddedin2021,include‘tradefinancefacilitationmeasures’and‘tradefacilitationintimesofcrisis’measures.

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Figure1:Nepal'stradefacilitationimplementationovertheyears(2017–2021)

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

202120192017

Source:UNGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2021

Implementationofdigitaltradefacilitationmeasures

BelowwelookatNepal'sprogressinimplementingdigitaltradefacilitationmeasures,whichisthefocusofourstudy.

Paperlesstrademeasures

Nepalhasmadeslightprogressinimplementingpaperlesstrademeasures.Itimplemented62.96percentofpaperlesstrademeasuresin2021comparedto59.26percentin2019(Figure1).Thecountryhasfullyimplemented'automatedcustomssystem','internetconnectionavailabletocustomsandothertradecontrolagencies',and'electronicsubmissionofcustomsdeclarations'.3Buttheimplementationof'electronicapplicationandissuanceofimportandexportpermit','electronicsubmissionofaircargomanifests',and'electronicapplicationandissuanceofPreferentialCertificateofOrigin'remainpartiallyimplemented.Implementationof'e-paymentofCustomsDutiesandFees'remaininaplanningstage,accordingtotheGSDSTF;butourstudyfindsthatthishasbeeninitiatedonapilotbasis(seeSection4).Likewise,whiletheGSDSTFfindsthatthe'electronicsinglewindowsystem'isinplanningstage,ourstudyfindsthatithascomeintopartialimplementationthroughwhatisknownasNepalNationalSingleWindow(NNSW).Finally,themeasure'electronicapplicationforcustomsrefunds'hasnotbeenimplementedaccordingtotheGSDSTF.

3See,UNGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2021.Availableat:

/economy?id=NPL

5

Figure2:ImplementationofdigitalandsustainabletradefacilitationmeasuresinNepal,2021

Transparency

100

WomeninTradeFacilitation

80

Formalities

60

40

Institutional

Arrangementand

20

AgricultureTradeFacilitation

0

Cooperation

PaperlessTrade

TradeFacilitation

forSMEs

Cross-Border

Nepal

EconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP)

SouthandSouth-WestAsia

LDCsinAsia-Pacific

LLDCsinAsia-Pacific

PaperlessTrade

Source:UNGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2021

AccordingtotheGSDSTF,Nepalhasgenerallyperformedbetterthanthecomparatorregionalgroupingsintheimplementationof'paperlesstrademeasures'exceptfor'e-paymentofcustomsdutiesandfees','electronicapplicationforcustomsrefunds',and'electronicsinglewindowsystem'(Figure3).However,withtherecentimplementationof'e-paymentofcustomsdutiesandfees',albeitonapilotbasis(describedinSection4),andpartialimplementationoftheelectronicsinglewindowsystem(seeSection3andSection4),Nepalismakingfurtherprogressinimplementingpaperlesstrademeasures.

Regardingtheimplementationof'cross-borderpaperlesstrade'measures,Nepalmadesomeprogressin2021,butthelevelofimplementationat22.22percentremainspoor.Comparedtootherregionalgroupings,Nepallagsbehindinimplementingmostofthe'cross-borderpaperlesstrade'measures(Figure4).

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Figure3:ImplementationofpaperlesstrademeasuresinNepal,2021

Applicationfor

CustomsRefunds

issuanceof

importand…

Electronic

applicationandSubmissionofAir

Electronic

connection

availableto

Customsand…

Automated

CustomsSystem

Internet

Electronic

ElectronicSingleWindowSystem

E-Paymentof

CustomsDuties

andFees

Electronic

submissionof

Customs

Electronic

applicationand

issuanceof

declarations

Preferential…

CargoManifests

Nepal

EconomicandSocial

CommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP)

SouthandSouth-WestAsia

LDCsinAsia-Pacific

Source:UNGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2021

Figure4:Implementationofcross-borderpaperlesstrademeasuresinNepal,2021

Lawsand

regulationsfor

electronic

transactions

Recognised

certification

authority

Electronic

exchangeof

Customs

Declaration

Nepal

EconomicandSocial

CommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP)

SouthandSouth-WestAsia

LDCsinAsia-Pacific

LLDCsinAsia-Pacific

Paperlesscollectionof

paymentfromadocumentary…

Electronic

exchangeof

Sanitary&Phyto-

SanitaryCertificate

Electronic

exchangeof

CertificateofOrigin

Source:UNGlobalSurveyonDigitalandSustainableTradeFacilitation,2021

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AccordingtotheGSDSTF,Nepalhaspartiallyimplemented'lawsandregulationsforelectronictransactions'and'electronicexchangeofCertificateofOrigin'.Othermeasures,whichinclude,'recognizedcertificationauthority','electronicexchangeofcustomsdeclaration','electronicexchangeofsanitary&phyto-sanitarycertificate',and'paperlesscollectionofpaymentfromadocumentaryletterofcredit'arenotimplementedatall,accordingtothesurvey.However,wefindthatthe'electronicexchangeofsanitary&phyto-sanitarycertificate'hasbeenpartiallyimplementedasNepalrecentlyexchangedane-phytocertificatewithMexicothroughtheNNSW(seeSection4).

Thus,Nepal'sprogressinimplementingtradefacilitationmeasuresoverallhasbeensatisfactory.Ithasyettoimplementasignificantportionofthemeasurestocatchupwithotherregionalgroupings.ThisindicatesthattherearesignificantavenuesformakingprogressintheimplementationoftradefacilitationmeasuresinNepal.Regardingtheimplementationofdigitaltradefacilitationmeasures,Nepalhasmaderemarkableprogressinimplementing'paperlesstrade'measures,generallyoutperformingcomparatorregionalgroups.However,thereareseriousgapsinimplementing'cross-borderpaperlesstrade'measures.Ourstudyalsocorroboratesthisfinding.Whiletherehasbeensignificantprogressinpaperlesstradeadministrationatthedomesticlevelthroughtheimplementationofe-customsandNNSW,onlylimitedprogresshasbeenachievedwithregardtocross-borderexchangeoftraderelateddataanddocuments.Wediscussthesethemesinthenextsections.

3.Initiatives,policiesandplansdrivingpaperlesstradeinNepal

3.1Majorpaperlesstradeinitiatives

Nepal'sforayintothepaperlesstraderegimestartedprimarilywithcustomsautomationintheformofelectroniccustoms(e-Customs).Whilecustomsautomation,primarilytheinstallationoftheAutomatedSystemofCustomsData(ASYCUDA),wasinitiatedin1996withthefinancialsupportoftheAsianDevelopmentBank(ADB),amajorbreakthroughinpaperlesstradewasachievedin2009whenthehandwrittencustomsdeclarationformwasreplacedbythesystem-generatedcustomsdeclarationformthroughthebrokermoduleofASYCUDA(initiatedbycustomsagentsinBirgunjcustomsandsubsequentlyrolledouttoothercustomsoffices)(GoN,2019).Throughgradualupgrades,e-CustomsthatusesASYCUDAWorld(referredtoasNepalCustomsAutomationSystem(NECAS)inNepal)isnowimplementedinalmostallthecustomspointsinthecountry.Thereareplanstoupgradee-Customstoachievefullautomationofcustomsprocesses.

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Apartfrome-Customs,somepaperlesstradesystemsandprocesseshavebeenrunningthroughtheinvolvementofdifferentgovernmentandnon-governmentagencies,whicharehighlightedbelow:

•Paperlesscertificateoforigin(COO):TheTradeandExportPromotionCentre(TEPC)hasbeenoperatingtheRegisteredExporterSystem(REX),anonlinesystemfortheissuanceofcertificationoforiginforEU-boundexportitems.Similarly,theFederationofNepaleseChambersofCommerceandIndustry(FNCCI)hadinitiatedanelectronicCOOprogrammesinceJuly2019onapilotbasis,butithadnotbecomefullyoperationalandhadnotbeenintegratedwithePayment(ESCAP,2019).FNCCI'se-COisnowapartoftheNNSW.TheTEPCisalsointheprocessofintegratingwiththeNNSW(moreonthisinthenextsection).

•Paperlesstradeinitiativesininternationaltransit:BecauseofNepal’slandlockedgeography,it’sthird-countrytradetakesplacethroughportsinIndia.ForNepal’stransittrade,paperlesscustomsdeclarationhasbeenimplementedbetweenNepalandIndiaonapilotbasis,whichcoverslimitedports(ESCAP,2019).UndertheElectronicCargoTrackingSystem(ECTS)arrangements,theportsofKolkata,HaldiaandVisakhapatnamsupporttheonlinefilingofdocumentsforthemovementofcontainerizedtrafficusingrailways(ESCAP,2019).Likewise,NepalRastraBank(NRB),Nepal’sCentralBank,transmitstheletter-of-credit(L/C)detailstotheNepaleseConsulateOfficeinKolkataandtheKolkatacustomsthroughemail.Similarly,Nepal’sDepartmentofCommerceexchanges,throughe-mail,detailsonNepal-boundcargo(cargoescoveredunderadvancepayment,TTorBankDraft)toNepaleseConsulateOfficeinKolkataandKolkatacustoms(ESCAP,2019).

Thebiggeststeptowardspaperlesstrade,however,hasbeentherecentdevelopmentandoperationalizationoftheNNSW,whichaimstointegrateallthemajorstakeholdersandtradeprocessesinasingleportalinawaythatalltradedocumentsandprocessescouldbeexecutedinapaperlessformat.BeforewediscussindetailtheNNSW,weprovidehighlightsofrelevantpoliciesandlawsinrelationtopaperlesstradeinNepal.

3.2PoliciesandplansconcerningpaperlesstradeinNepal

TherearenospecificplansandpoliciesonpaperlesstradeinNepal.Afewoftheplansandpoliciesthatcoverotherareashaveabearingonpaperlesstrade.Wediscusssomeoftheseimportantplansandpoliciesbelow.

3.2.1InformationandCommunicationTechnologyPolicy

Leveraginginformationandcommunicationtechnology(ICT)forsocio-economicdevelopmenthasbecomeimportantforallthecountriesacrosstheworld.InNepal,theInformationandCommunicationsTechnology(ICT)Policy,preparedin2015,

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aspirestomakeICTaccessibleandaffordabletoall4anduseICTforsustainableandinclusivesocio-economicdevelopment5.Likewise,thePolicyacknowledgesthepotentialofusingICTintheareaofgoodgovernanceandpublicservicedeliveryandhasspecifieditasoneofthepolicies6.SeveralprovisionsinthePolicyhaveabearingonthedevelopmentofpaperlesstrade,whichincludewidespreadaccessibilityandexpansionofICTtechnology,includinginruralandremoteareas(Section11.1andSection11.2);formulationofacompatiblelegalandregulatoryframeworkfortheadvancementofbusinesstransactionscarriedoutthroughelectronicmeans(Section11.7.3),developmentandeffectiveoperationofpaymentinfrastructureservicesandonlinepaymentandsettlementsystemthatissecure,interoperable,accessible,andthatadherestointernationalstandard(Section11.7.9andSection12.7.3);developmentoftelecommunicationsinfrastructure,includingbroadbandnetwork,wirelessbackbone,terrestrialmicrowavefrequency,etc.(Section11.11);andformulationofe-GovernmentMasterPlantouseICTintheareaofgovernanceandservicedelivery(Section11.7).

3.2.2DigitalNepalFramework

Likewise,elementsofpaperlesstradefeaturestronglyintheDigitalNepalFramework,whichisthegovernment’sblueprintthatprovidesaroadmapregardingtheleveragingofdigitalinitiativesforeconomicgrowth,innovativesolutionstosolvesociety’schallenges,andforNepal’senhancedparticipationintheglobaleconomy(GoN,2018).7Particularly,DigitalNepalFrameworkincludesthedevelopmentofasinglewindowasoneofitspriorities.Itaspiresforthedevelopmentofasinglewindowthatfacilitatestradethrougheasysubmissionofregulatorydocumentsandtowardsanenhancedleveloftradefacilitationthroughdataharmonization,cross-borderdataexchange,anddocumentsimplificationandstandardization(Table1).

Table1:PaperlessTradeinDigitalNepalFramework

Developmentofsinglewindowforbusinessandindustrypromotion

Solution

Implementationofasinglewindowsystemwillenhancethetradingcommunity’sconvenienceandefficiencyastraderswillbeabletosubmittheirregulatorydocumentsatasinglesiteorlocation.Theregulatorydocumentsmaybecustomsdeclarations,applicationsforimport/exportpermits,andothersupportingdocumentssuchascertificatesoforiginandtradinginvoices.

4Objective1oftheICTPolicy(Section9.1)

5Objective2oftheICTPolicy(Section9.2)

6Objective17oftheICTPolicy(Section11,17)

7DigitalNepalFrameworkencompasseseightsectorsand80digitalinitiatives.

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Throughelectronicinterfacelikegovernmentportalsorwebsites,traderscanmeettheirservicedeliveryatasingledeliverypointwhichwillreducetransactioncostofregulationa