Shailaja A. Lakshmi
A new electronic trade portal that will enable trade and make life easier for business has been launched in the Dominican Republic by Dubai Trade World (DT World).
As a subsidiary of DP World, DT World will provide its ‘Mawani’ system that connects logistics services onto one platform, as well as management and consultancy services to DR Trade – a new joint venture company formed by DP World Caucedo and the Haina International Terminal.
A recent signing ceremony in Caucedo to mark the agreement was attended by representatives of the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Finance, General Directorate of Customs, National Council of Competitiveness, National Free Zones Council, National Council of Private Enterprise, Association of Industries of the Dominican Republic, the Dominican Association of Exporters and senior DT World officials including Chief Operating Officer Mahmood Al Bastaki.
DT World Chief Operating Officer, Mahmood Al Bastaki, said: “The new portal will offer a single online window for the Dominican Republic’s traders operating across the supply chain, using a proven and streamlined flow of services designed around their needs. The millions of transactions between ports, shipping lines, agencies, distributors, importers and exporters, can result in duplication of effort and will now be done through a new, paperless platform.
"Our Logistics Community System ‘Mawani’ will prompt greater intra-regional trade by reducing operating costs and cargo handling times, resulting in an improvement in logistics performance and border compliance. It will support the country’s vision to become a regional trade hub and we look forward to working with the government to further develop services such as these that will support the growth of the economy.”
DR Trade General Manager, Francisco Domínguez, said: “DR Trade’s electronic platform will enable the intelligent and secure exchange of information between public and private agents to improve the competitive position of the Dominican Republic’s logistics community. We are excited to partner with DT World, a proven leader in trade facilitation, to assist us in our journey to transform and fuel trade in the country, leaving behind all physical documentation and turning the country into one dedicated to technology and paperless processes.”