In a historic milestone for national digital transformation, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Customs and Excise Department has officially launched the upgraded ASYCUDA World version 4.4, transitioning the nation toward a fully paperless customs environment. The launch serves as the critical foundation for the Vincy Single Window for Trade (VSwift), a transformative initiative designed to make cross-border trade “safer, smarter, and faster”.
Implemented under the auspices of the World Bank-funded Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDP) and in collaboration with the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), this fifth-generation, cloud-based platform makes St. Vincent and the Grenadines the first nation in the Eastern Caribbean to embrace this level of advanced ASYCUDA technology.
The system enables brokers, importers, and exporting companies to seamlessly lodge declarations, upload supporting documents, track application statuses, and make online duty payments from any internet-enabled device. “You can be on the beach in Bequia… simply once you have internet connectivity, you can lodge an entry as a broker,” noted Terrence Leonard, UNCTAD Program Manager.
Comptroller of Customs and Excise, Mr. Selvin Salva, emphasized the immense economic significance of the upgrade. He noted that customs collections accounted for 48.8% of the nation’s total tax revenue in 2025, exceeding its revenue mandate by $10 million.
“From this moment forward, the business community can submit declarations online, pay duties and taxes online, [and] receive real-time notification on the status of their submission,” Salva stated, adding that this level of convenience was once only heard of in advanced economies.
The transition systematically phases out heavily paper-based processes. Examining officers have been equipped with mobile tablets, allowing them to conduct and record physical inspections directly into the ASYCUDA system while out in the field, effectively eliminating the need for clipboards and paper declarations.
The system also introduces automated risk-configurable selectivity rules, which allow low-risk cargo to clear much faster, optimizing the department’s security resources. Future modular rollouts will include a revolutionary e-commerce module for courier packages. This will allow customers to pay fees online before packages even arrive on the island, putting an end to long queues at courier companies. Electronic certificates of origin are also being piloted, utilizing QR codes to verify authenticity and build regional trust.
A core feature of this digital modernization is the integration of 22 Partner Government Agencies (PGAs)—including Plant Protection, Animal Health, the Police Force, and the Ministry of Health—into a single digital ecosystem.
As an interim measure before the dedicated VSwift single-window portal takes over entirely, key agencies have been provided with direct ASYCUDA accounts to issue vital approvals electronically. This ensures that clearance processes remain fully digital from day one, acting as a single gateway for the trading community.
Officials heavily stressed that the success of this digital shift relies on human adaptability. Chryslin Goldborn Harry, National Project Officer for VSwift, noted that success requires a shared commitment to doing things differently, along with comprehensive training for users and the private sector.
“Technology alone does not transform a system. People do,” remarked Comptroller Salva, highlighting the cultural shift toward a transparent, service-oriented trade environment. By removing the friction from trade and reducing clearance times, officials are confident that the new system will boost the nation’s global competitiveness, attract investment, and drive the Vincentian economy for generations to come.