Application for Export/Import
Licenses and Quotas - EXIM
www.exim.gov.mk

Purpose
The application for export/import licenses and quotas (EXIM) significantly facilitates the process companies have to go through to get licenses or quotas they need to perform foreign trade operations. EXIM is part of the Single Window and integrated border management concept implemented by the Government of Macedonia through the Customs Administration as a leading agency and it is foreseen to become an important trade facilitator for the business community.

Application functionalities
EXIM is a single portal that enables businesses to electronically submit applications and obtain export, import and transit licenses from the government institutions involved in the process of international trade regulation. In addition to licenses, businesses can through EXIM apply for tariff-rate quotas distributed to the applicants on "first come, first served" basis. The system tracks the process of issuing and usage of licenses and quotas providing performance information to the institutions and to the companies.

Users
The use of the system is mandatory for the Customs Administration and the fifteen government institutions, and optional for the trading community.

Specific benefits
" Availability of the service 24/7
" Time and cost savings due to electronic submission of applications
" Increased efficiency by participating institutions in the process of issuing of licenses
" Standardized and harmonized data that can in the future be further exchanged
" Electronic tracking of the issued licenses
" Online application and transparent electronic distribution of tariff-rate quotas

Status
EXIM was launched in November 2008 and ever since the number of its users is permanently increasing. The eGov Project and the Customs Administration plan to develop additional modules that will further expand EXIM functionalities. These modules will be completed in year 2010.

Memorandum of Understanding Signed for Further Development of EXIM, July 28, 2009

The USAID-funded eGov Project continues to support the Government of Macedonia and the Customs Administration in streamlining the complex and complicated procedures for issuing of export/import licenses and quotas by assisting the second stage of development of the Single Window for Export/Import Licenses and Quotas - EXIM. Assistance will include development of new features as well as integration of EXIM with the new Customs Declarations Processing System - CDPS and other electronic systems managed by the Customs Administration. The framework for future assistance activities is provided in a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation signed on 28 July 2009 by Gordana Toseva, Director of the eGov Project and Vanco Kargov, Director of the Customs Administration.

The EXIM system was developed in close cooperation with the Customs Administration and fifteen other government institutions. It was launched in November 2008. Its implementation included harmonization and simplification of the legal and administrative procedures, as well as transformation of the application and approval process from paper to electronic. The result is a powerful tool that enables businesses to engage in cross-border transactions much faster and at a much lower cost than ever before.

eGov Project Actively Promotes eGov Applications

During April and May 2009, the eGov Project organized presentations of its applications in Skopje, Tetovo, Shtip, Bitola and Kavadarci. The presentations were attended by over 1200 representatives of business community public institutions as potential users of EXIM, e-Procurement, e-Tax and Employment Registration applications.
Download presentation on EXIM

The eGov Project Assists the Cross-Border Trade Facilitation with New Online System - December 22, 2008

The eGov Project provided technical assistance to the Government of Macedonia and the Customs Administration to streamline the complex and complicated procedures for export/import licenses and quotas by introducing the Single Window for Export/Import Licenses and Quotas - EXIM. The system was implemented in close cooperation with sixteen government institutions and it included harmonization and simplification of the legal and administrative procedures, as well as transformation of the application and approval process from paper to electronic. The result is a powerful tool that will enable businesses to engage in cross-border transactions much faster and at a much lower cost than ever before.

"One of the key objectives of the US government in Macedonia is to stimulate economic growth. To do this, we work together to improve the conditions for doing business, to improve business competitiveness and to build linkages with foreign partners. Together with the government, we are focusing on legal reforms and streamlining the bureaucratic processes in order to ease burdens on companies and investors and to bring transparency to these processes. Information and communication technology is an excellent tool to achieve increased transparency and efficiency in provision of government services" said Philip Reeker US Ambassador to Macedonia at the lanching event held on December 22, 2008 at the Aleksandar Palace Hotel in Skopje.

Photo: (right) US Ambassador Philip Reeker and Director of Customs Administration Vanco Kargov (left)

The EXIM system will enable Macedonian companies involved in foreign trade to electronically apply and obtain import, export and transit licenses from sixteen government institutions involved in foreign trade regulation. The system is available at www.exim.gov.mk.
This application is part of the Trade Facilitation Single Window initiative implemented by the Government of Macedonia. The Project is coordinated by the Customs Administration (www.customs.gov.mk).

Promotion of the Single Window Export/Import Licenses and Quotas - July 8, 2008

The eGov Project assists the Government of Macedonia in developing and implementing an electronic system for import-export licenses and quotas that will streamline the foreign trade procedures. The system is expected to enable Macedonian companies involved in foreign trade to apply and obtain import, export and transit licenses electronically from any of the sixteen issuing institutions. In addition to licenses and quotas, the system will provide electronic submission and processing of the transit customs declarations.
Functionalities of the system were presented to the business community at an event held on July 8, 2008 at the Parliamentary Club.
The development of this system is another example of the excellent cooperation between the eGov Project and the Government of Macedonia in implementing e-government solutions, which enhance the efficiency and transparency of the public institutions, improving the quality of government services and making Macedonia more attractive to the investment community.
"Import and export procedures are an important component for enabling the business environment. It is our expectation that this new system will improve efficiency and make Macedonia even more attractive to foreign investors," said Patricia Rader, USAID Mission Director.
The application was developed in close cooperation with the Customs Administration of the Republic of Macedonia. During the summer period, the system will undergo pilot testing; the full-range launch of the system is planned for fall 2008.