The Maldives Customs Service has announced that freight forwarders can now submit house bill of lading information for all imports and exports by sea electronically through the government's Tradian portal.
The move, designed to streamline customs procedures and enhance trade efficiency, is part of a larger government digitisation effort.
The Maldives Customs Service requires freight forwarders handling sea cargo to register as cargo agents under the General Customs Regulations. These agents are responsible for electronically submitting house bill of lading details to Customs within a specified timeframe.
The new system requires the freight forwarder listed as the consignee on the master bill of lading to submit the house bill of lading information through the Tradian portal (Maldives National Single Window). A house bill of lading is a document issued by a freight forwarder that serves as a receipt for goods, a contract with the shipper, and proof of ownership.
The official launch of the "Tradian" single window on 20 April was a major step in fulfilling President Dr Mohammed Muizzu's vision to provide greater convenience for Maldivian entrepreneurs. The platform consolidates services from various government agencies, allowing businesses to manage import and export processes online through a single, unified portal.
The initiative is expected to simplify international trade, cut down on paperwork, and increase efficiency for importers and exporters, aligning with the government's broader policy of national digitisation.