NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2026 36 INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY/CUSTOMS WEEK FEATURE | THE SUNDAY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 1, 2026 AS JAMAICA observes International Customs Day 2026 under the theme, ‘Customs Protecting Society Through Vigilance and Commitment,’ the Jamaica Single Window for Trade (JSWIFT) continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening national border protection while facilitating legitimate trade. JSWIFT, Jamaica’s single online access point for obtaining import and export permits and approvals, made significant strides during 2025 in expanding coverage, enhancing efficiency, and improving stakeholder support. These advances directly support the Jamaica Customs Agency’s mandate to protect society by ensuring that regulated goods entering and leaving the country are properly authorised and monitored. In 2025, JSWIFT added 22 new categories of regulated items for which permits are now mandated through the platform. These categories are administered by the Pharmaceutical and Regulatory Affairs Branch (PRAB), the Jamaica Agricultural Commodities Regulatory Authority (JACRA), and the Plant Quarantine and Produce Inspection Branch (PQPIB). With these additions, JSWIFT now accepts applications for 110 categories of goods, representing approximately 65% of all items that require a permit, licence, certificate, or other approval prior to importation into or exportation from Jamaica. These include, among others, motor vehicles, agricultural commodities, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, medicaments, controlled substances, hazardous substances, firearms, scrap metal, and aquatic commodities. Oversight of these services is provided by 13 ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs). The remaining 35% of regulated categories are slated for onboarding in the upcoming financial year, further strengthening Jamaica’s trade compliance framework. A critical flagship initiative of the Government of Jamaica (GOJ), JSWIFT provides a fully webbased, end-to-end digital experience, allowing applicants to submit applications, make payments, and receive approvals online. Once approved, permits are automatically transmitted electronically to the Jamaica Customs Agency’s system (ASYCUDA), enabling seamless integration into the cargo clearance process. Through JSWIFT, individuals and entities importing or exporting personal or commercial goods can efficiently meet regulatory requirements, saving time, reducing costs, and improving transparency across the trade ecosystem. Further enhancements are on the way. By March 2026, JSWIFT is scheduled to onboard: • Firearm Licensing Authority (FLA) - Import and Export Permits, and; • Department of Charities and Friendly Societies (DCFS) – Charities Registration. Additionally, the planned onboarding of the Ministry of National Security (MNS), the Veterinary Services Division (VSD) and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in the upcoming financial year will complete coverage of all major import and export permit categories, solidifying JSWIFT as a comprehensive national trade facilitation platform. The year 2025 marked the highest annual growth in user registration since JSWIFT went live in June 2020. During the year, 3,297 new users registered on the platform, bringing the total number of registered users to (13,704 as of December 2025. This growth was largely driven by the onboarding of pharmaceutical and chemical imports administered by PRAB, as well as agricultural commodity imports administered by JACRA. Capacity-building efforts also expanded significantly. The JSWIFT Training Team engaged 320 participants across twenty-four (24) training sessions in 2025, supporting both new implementations and follow-up engagements to address knowledge gaps and improve system usage. Complementing these efforts, the JSWIFT Learning Management System (LMS) now supports 680 registered users. Each onboarding initiative is supported by a dedicated course container that houses structured learning materials, including user manuals and stepby-step tutorials, ensuring consistent and easy access to guidance. The Learning JSWIFT YouTube Channel continued to serve as a valuable educational resource, recording: • 13,777 total views, • 950.48 hours of watch time, and, • 64,243 total impressions in 2025. Top-performing videos included tutorials on applying for Jamaica Trade Board (JTBL) permits, trader registration, and plant import, PRAB, and JACRA permits – highlighting the channel’s relevance to importers and exporters. Meanwhile, the JSWIFT Client Services Team maintained a 99% response rate within 24 hours, consistent with international trade industry best practices. In 2025, extended support hours were introduced on weekday evenings and Saturdays, further improving service accessibility. Throughout 2025, the JSWIFT Team remained firmly customer-focused, implementing multiple platform updates to benefit both applicants and approving MDAs. These improvements reflect an ongoing commitment to continuous enhancement, operational efficiency, and the reduction of technical debt, reinforcing the system’s reliability and resilience. As the Jamaica Customs Agency celebrates International Customs Day, JSWIFT stands as a key enabler of vigilant border management, regulatory compliance, and trade facilitation, supporting the agency in its mission to protect society while fostering economic growth. For more information on JSWIFT, visit www.jswift. gov.jm, contact the Client Services Team at support@ jswift.gov.jm, or view tutorials on the Learning JSWIFT YouTube Channel. Submitted by the JSWIFT Branch, JCA JSWIFT strengthens trade compliance and protection through digital transformation A critical flagship initiative of the Government of Jamaica (GOJ), JSWIFT provides a fully web-based, end-to-end digital experience, allowing applicants to submit applications, make payments, and receive approvals online. Once approved, permits are automatically transmitted electronically to the Jamaica Customs Agency’s system (ASYCUDA), enabling seamless integration into the cargo clearance process. As the Jamaica Customs Agency celebrates International Customs Day, JSWIFT stands as a key enabler of vigilant border management, regulatory compliance, and trade facilitation, supporting the agency in its mission to protect society while fostering economic growth.
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