How it began
TradeNet was first announced on December 3, 1986, by Lee Hsien Loong, then acting minister for trade and industry, at an informatics exhibition in Singapore. In March 1988 a company, Singapore Network Services, was incorporated to build and run it, owned jointly by the Trade Development Board, the telecommunications authority, the civil aviation authority and the port authority. IBM was the main contractor. A pilot with 50 companies began on January 1, 1989, and the system was officially launched on October 17, 1989.
How it works
TradeNet is an electronic data interchange system. It links traders, hauliers, shipping lines, freight forwarders, airlines and handling agents with the government agencies that control trade, among them customs and the air and sea port authorities. It acts as an electronic clearing house: a trader submits one set of trade papers, and the system routes it to the relevant agencies for processing and approval of cargo clearance.
What changed first
By the official launch more than 500 users had joined, including importers, exporters, manufacturers, retailers and courier firms. It was estimated that once fully operational the system could save as much as 1 billion Singapore dollars a year. The project's results led the government to make TradeNet mandatory for all trade transactions in 1991, two years ahead of schedule.
What lasted
The World Customs Organization describes TradeNet as the world's first national single window, and it has been presented by international bodies as a case study for other countries building their own. It brought the requirements of 35 controlling units into one system. From the start, planners intended to connect it to international electronic data interchange networks.
Where it stands today
TradeNet has been in continuous operation since 1989. According to a United Nations case study, all trade declarations in Singapore are submitted and processed through it. The system is available 24 hours a day, and permits can be returned to the trader within about ten minutes.
