The movement of goods is made complex and unpredictable by various factors. Some of the factors are formal while others are informal. In order to facilitate the movement of goods across the customs posts, Rwanda has introduced a customs centric single window, the Rwanda electronic single window (RESW). This study therefore assesses the effects of RESW on the movement of goods across the Rwandan customs posts using multi-level modelling. More specifically, this study focuses on determining the level of the implementation RESW; examining the level of trade facilitation; establishing the extent to which the movement of goods has been facilitated; and assessing the extent to which RESW affects the movement of goods across the Rwandan customs posts. Data were collected through questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Multi-Level Model. The main findings reveal that the level of the implementation of RESW and trade facilitation have on average been improved whereas, the movement of goods has, to a large extent, been facilitated along the Rwandan customs posts. The implementation of RESW has to a large extent improved the level of trade facilitation and significantly and positively affected the movement of goods along the Rwandan customs posts, hence, streamlining and expediting the movement of goods by reducing the factors that make it more complex and unpredictable. More specifically, the results indicate that 1-unit increase in the level of trade facilitation as a result of the implementation of RESW is associated with 1.335 points reduction in the barriers to the movement of goods. However, there is a need for all border crossing agencies to work in a synergy to keep on improving the implementation of RESW.
Cite this paper
Vincent, N. and Njong, M. A. (2022). Effects of Rwanda Electronic Single Window (RESW) on the Movement of Goods along the Rwandan Customs Posts. Open Access Library Journal, 9, e8332. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1108332.
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