Gateway Services Limited

1
Gateway Services Limited

• An Overview of the GSL Concept

WTO Workshop Technical Assistance and Capacity
Building in Trade Facilitation Genève, 11 May 2001
2
What Is GSL?
AGENDA

• Introduction to GSL
• The Partnership Approach
• The Objectives
• The Investment
• The GSL Approach and Process
• Computerised Risk Management System (CRMS)
• X-ray Scanning Technology
• Capacity Builing
• Results
• Concluding Remarks

3
What Is GSL?
Gateway Services Limited (GSL) is

• A Ghanaian Registered Joint Venture Company
• Established under of Gateway Trade Investment
  Gateway Project (GTIG)
• Acting through the Ministry of Trade Industry
  (MOTI)
• General objective of establishing within Ghana
  an environment to facilitate trade and
  investment
• Modernise services and infrastructure
• Focus on  front-line  agencies and
  institutions to make them trade facilitators

4
The Partnership comprises

• Cotecna Inspection S.A of Geneva 70
• Customs, Excise and Preventive Services
  (CEPS) 10
• Ghana Ports Harbours Authority (GPHA) 7
• Private Ghanaian Investors 13

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The Objectives

• Established in November 1999 and Effective 1st
  April 2000
• Agreement between GSL and the Government of
  Ghana
• Acting through the Ministry of Trade Industry
• Objective to move away from PSI
• Implement a new  Destination Inspection
  Scheme 
• Trade Facilitation at the core of the GSL Concept

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The Investment

• Share Capital of USD 3.8 Million
• Loan of USD 6 Million
• Total Investment of USD 10 Million!

GSL represents a long-term committment to the
goal of helping to modernise trade management in
Ghana.
7
The Model

• The GSL concept has generated interest and
  raised Ghanas profile with visits from Customs
  and Finance officials from various countries
• United Kingdom
• South Africa
• Tanzania
• Kenya

8
The Approach

• Computerized Risk Management System (CRMS)
• Apply selective approach to inspections
• Use automated statistical tools to assess risk
• Limit the need for full physical inspection
• More efficient allocation of resources
• X-Ray Scanning Technology
• Mobile X-Ray Scanner - June 2000
• Fixed X-Ray Scanner - December 2000
• Training Transfer of knowledge
• ACV Training
• CRMS Transaction Price Database Training
• Scanner Training for operators Image analysts
• Computer Technical training

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The Benefits

• Computerized Risk Management System (CRMS)
• Implements selective approach to intervention
  based on Risk
• Focus on high Risk imports
• Reduces the need for Physical Inspection
• Facilitates legitimate importers through
  fast-track release
• Reduces the cost of compliance
• X-Ray Scanning Technology
• Provides a non-intrusive means of import
  verification
• Reduces need for physical intervention as a
  matter of course
• Speeds up the verification and clearance process
  
• Contributes to port decongestion

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The Process

• CRMS analyses data to provide a level of Risk for
  each shipment.
• A specific level of intervention is prescribed
  for each shipment based on risk
• Each shipment is designated to a specific CHANNEL
  for processing

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The Process (continued)

• The level of intervention is based upon risk
• For example Low risk goods are subject to
  release or random inspection
• LOW AND Medium risk containers subject to x-ray
  scanning
• High Risk goods subject to physical
  inspection/examination

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The Results

• Computerized Risk Management System (CRMS)
• Reduction of physical inspections by almost 50
• Objective of reaching 20 physical inspections
• More efficient allocation of CEPS resources
• Facilitates legitimate trade by reducing
  clearance times
• Provides adequate revenue protection
• X-Ray Scanning Technology
• Capacity to scan up to 210 containers per day
• Almost 12,000 containers scanned to date
• Physical intervention required in only 15 of
  cases
• Discrepancies confirmed in 9-10 of these cases
• Reduced clearance times and port congestion

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TABLE AND GRAPH SHOWING MONTHLY AVERAGE TIME
BETWEEN FINAL DOCUMENTS RECEIVED AND FCVRs
ISSUED FROM MAY 2000 TO FEBRUARY 2001