Lesotho moves to streamline trade with digital single window platform

In a major stride toward simplifying cross-border trade and improving the ease of doing business, the government is making significant headway in implementing the Lesotho National Single Window (LNSW), a digital platform designed to harmonise and digitise trade procedures.

This reform aligns with Article 10.4 of the World Trade Organisation (WTO)’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which Lesotho ratified in 2016.

It aims to reduce the administrative burden on traders and improve the efficiency of imports and exports by creating a centralised platform where all trade-related permits, licenses, and certificates can be processed electronically.

Momentum for the project surged this week with the official handover of information and communication technology (ICT) equipment worth M4 million to ten government agencies that are being integrated into the system.

The equipment, provided under the World Bank-supported Competitiveness and Financial Inclusion (CAFI) Project, includes 52 laptops, 50 desktops, 37 printers, 37 routers, 37 UPS units, 37 wall-mount racks, and six servers.

Spearheaded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development, the LNSW is a flagship component of Lesotho’s digital transformation agenda.

Once fully operational, it will allow traders to apply for and receive the necessary documentation to import or export goods without having to physically visit multiple offices.

The platform is expected to reduce border delays, cut transaction costs, improve compliance, and promote transparency and efficiency across the board.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Palesa Matobako, said the handover marked more than just the distribution of equipment; it represented a concrete step toward a more efficient trade environment.

“The handover of equipment to our key implementing agencies today signifies more than the mere distribution of resources; it stands as a powerful testament to our collective strides toward realising the Lesotho National Single Window,” Matobako said.

“This pivotal reform embodies the Ministry’s dedication to simplifying cross-border procedures and strengthening Lesotho’s trade competitiveness,” she added.

She indicated that through the CAFI Project, the Ministry has worked to ensure that trade-related institutions are adequately equipped to participate in the digital transformation. The reform is expected to enhance transparency, operational efficiency, and compliance within the trade system.

Chaba Mokuku, the Managing Director of the CAFI Project, noted that the government’s digital trade reform journey began even earlier, in March 2014, with the launch of the Trade Information Portal.

He said in June 2022, a pilot phase was successfully completed under the Second Private Sector Competitiveness (PSC) Project, connecting the One-Stop Business Facilitation Centre (OBFC), responsible for business registration and trade licensing, and the Lesotho Revenue Authority (now Revenue Services Lesotho), responsible for customs clearance and revenue collection.

Despite disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and tight deadlines under the PSC Project, Mokuku praised the technical teams and oversight bodies for successfully delivering the pilot phase.

He confirmed that the next phase will integrate ten additional agencies into the system by February 2026. Equipment distributed this week is meant to prepare those agencies for integration, and by September this year, Revenue Services Lesotho will assume full operational management of the platform.

“Our goal is clear: by February 2026, ten additional government agencies will be fully integrated into the platform. Today, we take a concrete step toward that goal. The Project Management Unit of the CAFI Project is officially handing over ICT equipment to these agencies representing a wide range of regulatory and trade-related functions.” Mokuku said.

Mokuku further indicated that the system would empower small and medium enterprises, which often lack the capacity to navigate complex trade regulations, by making licensing and documentation more accessible and predictable.

Once fully operational, the Single Window will offer a unified digital platform for all trade-related applications, significantly reduce clearance times and transaction costs, and eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies.

He added that this reform is not just a technological upgrade but a critical tool to enhance national competitiveness. It is expected to boost Lesotho’s trade performance, increase export volumes, strengthen coordination among regulatory bodies, and position the country as a regional leader in trade facilitation.

The LNSW will also integrate with the customs management system, allowing traders to reference licenses and permits digitally, rather than attaching scanned documents to customs declarations. This will further accelerate border clearance, cut costs, and improve transparency.

The beneficiary trade-related agencies include:

• Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition – for import/export permits of controlled commodities;
• Department of Livestock and Fisheries – for veterinary permits; Department of Agricultural Research – for plant import permits and phytosanitary certificates;
• Lesotho Dairy Board – for dairy trade permits;
• Ministry of Health (Environmental Health & Pharmaceuticals) – for certificates related to food safety, medicines, narcotics, and medical devices;
• Ministry of Natural Resources – Department of Mines – for mineral export permits;
• Ministry of Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police – for firearm and explosive permits, and regional police clearances;
• Ministry of Public Works and Transport – Department of Traffic – for cross-border road transport permits; and
• Ministry of Sports, Tourism, Arts and Culture – for alcohol import permits.

Staff Reporter

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