Asia makes efficiency gains with e-clearance

South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) at the Port of Colombo in Sri Lanka said that elimination of clearing agents and the eradication of physical interaction has greatly improved efficiency at its Terminal Documentation Centre.

“The Government and the stakeholder community must ensure that these long overdue gains are fully implemented and entrenched in a post COVID-19 environment too, rather than permitting the ‘traditional’ way of doing things,” said Romesh David, SAGT’s chief executive officer.

Efficiency gains

Mr David pointed out that the initiative will pave the way for even greater efficiencies in the future moving the terminal towards a totally contactless import clearance port.

SAGT’s new system uses email to digitise the clearance process ad integrates the paperless Customs Declaration (CUSDEC) process that is already used by Sri Lanka Customs.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, SAGT said it has continued to provide full terminal services throughout the initial period of supply chain disruptions, which has incurred additional costs for the terminal.

In addition to the new e-clearance, which has played its part to keep cargo moving more efficiently through the terminal, SAGT has also offered an additional 31 days of terminal storage free-time for general cargo and 38 days storage free-time for unaccompanied personal baggage containers.

It has also extended the lowest charge of storage tier for the duration from 14 April 14 to 7 May 2020.