Tuesday, December 13 2005 17:08 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kualampur: In a major effort to boost trade and economic activities, the ten-member Asean grouping today (December 13, 2005) agreed to set up and implement an ambitious ASEAN Single Window for quick decision making on customs.

"The National Single Window will help in synchronising processing of data and information," according to an agreement adopted by ASEAN trade and economic officials here during the ongoing 11th ASEAN summit.

"A single decision making for customs release shall be uniformly interpreted as a single point of decision for the release of cargos by the customs on the basis of decisions taken by line ministries and agencies and communicated in a timely manner to the customs," the agreement said.

The members agreed that the window would be operated with the principles of consistency, simpilicity, transparency and efficiency.