Koror, Palau – December 15, 2025 — At the One Stop Shop, Office of the President, UNCTAD In-Country Expert Mr. Rizwan Khan, together with the Chiefs of the five divisions of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, formally met with His Excellency President Surangel S. Whipps, Jr. to officially hand over the National Single Window Blueprint.
The Government of the Republic of Palau extends its sincere appreciation to the European Union, through the IMPACT Project, for its financial and technical support in undertaking the Single Window Blueprint Assessment. Recognition is also extended to the Coordinated Border Management Working Group, the former Director of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Mr. John Tarkong Jr., the ASYCUDA Project Team, and especially Mr. Rizwan Khan for his leadership and expertise in guiding the assessment process and developing the Blueprint.
The National Single Window Blueprint reviewed the business processes, legal frameworks, permit and licensing requirements, and operational capacities of fourteen (14) government stakeholder agencies involved in trade and travel in the Republic of Palau. The assessment aims to establish a single digital portal environment that will allow importers, exporters, businesses and travelling public to submit applications, upload required documents, track status, and enable real-time information sharing among agencies. This approach is expected to improve transparency, reduce processing times, and enhance overall efficiency in border clearance and government service delivery.
The assessment document provides a detailed analysis of current procedures, identifies operational gaps, and offers clear recommendations for improving effectiveness through business process reengineering. Particular emphasis is placed on trade and facilitation, reducing unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, and strengthening coordinated border management across government institutions.
This formal handover signifies the completion and official submission of the National Single Window Blueprint Report. The next phase of the initiative rests with the Government of Palau to advance implementation planning and system integration. As proposed by former BCBP Director John Tarkong Jr., the initial phase of implementation will focus on priority modules, including Biosecurity, the Immigration Online Visa System, labor work permit processing, and the Online Passenger Arrival Declaration with QR code generation, integrated with the Customs ASYCUDA system. These components will serve as the foundation for the National Single Window, with future expansion planned to include additional sectors such as health, marine transportation, and agriculture, to name a few.
This milestone would not have been possible without the support of the European Union through the IMPACT Project and the active collaboration of all participating government stakeholders who contributed their expertise and operational input throughout the assessment process. The Government of Palau looks forward to the continued advancement of this initiative and remains committed to realizing the National Single Window as a key pillar of modernization, trade facilitation, and coordinated border management for the Republic of Palau.
