• November 24, 2020

ARLINGTON, November 24 – In the age of COVID-19, access to digital services is more important than ever for businesses to survive. For years, exporters and importers in Burma have had to physically turn in documents to government ministries to apply for licenses to trade, and ministries have had to hand-deliver these licenses in return. Nathan, through the USAID/Burma Transparency and Inclusive Growth Activity (TIGA), supported the Myanmar Ministry of Commerce (MoC) to launch the TradeNet2.0 platform, which will allow traders to apply for import and export licenses online. The first phase of the system launched in November 2020, and it is expected to be fully operational by January 2021.

The launch, which immediately enabled nearly 3,500 traders to apply for licenses electronically, has been long in the making. Nathan began working with the MoC on the TradeNet2.0 system in 2018 as part of the USAID/Burma Private Sector Development Activity (PSDA), starting with the upgrade and redesign of the legacy TradeNet software and collecting feedback from the private sector on the beta. In 2020, TIGA’s technical staff provided inputs and assistance to finalize TradeNet2.0’s content development, user interface, usability testing, database structure improvement, and MoC staff capacity building. TIGA also provided the funding to host TradeNet2.0 on the Microsoft Azure cloud service, which MoC will take over after two years. Leading up to the full launch, TIGA will continue working with MoC on back-end functionality as well as front-end design of the homepage, user access, and FAQs.

Nathan’s work on TradeNet2.0 complements other work TIGA and PSDA have done to support Burma’s trade facilitation, which also includes the creation of the Burmese National Single Window Routing Platform, the expansion of Burma’s participation in the ASEAN Single Window, and the development of an Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program in Burma. These efforts will all be crucial to Burma’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and continued growth.

About Nathan

Nathan is a private international economic and analytics consulting firm that works with government and commercial clients around the globe to deliver practical solutions and achieve lasting results. Whether building frameworks for economic growth or navigating regulatory hurdles, securing infrastructure financing or evaluating and assessing disputes, Nathan’s experts serve as trusted partners, offering clients the analysis, technical advice, and strategies they need for sound decision-making.

Known for both technical and service excellence, Nathan has corporate offices in the US, UK, and India and more than 40 program offices around the world. More information about Nathan can be found at nathaninc.com.

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