New enhanced TTBizLink now completed

Following through with the government’s promise of making TT a more digitised society, the Trade and Industry Ministry with financing from the Inter-American Development Bank and consulting from CrimsonLogic (Panama) Inc and CrimsonLogic (TT) launched the new and enhanced TTBizLink software application for the ease of conducting business.

"The new TTBizLink is now 90 per cent completed and costed US$7 million so far," said deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry Randall Karim during his address as he was referring to the migration of existing users from the old application environment to the new. This process is completed on Wednesday.

TTBizLink was first launched in October 2009.

The first of its kind in the Caribbean, it now provides 24/7 access to over 40 trade and business-related government services, 23 government agencies across eight ministries, has registered 4,623 companies, 36,914 people and 399 approvers on the system said Trade and Industry Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon.

The new platform, she said, will have a modernised, mobile responsive and user-friendly interface; inherent security features and a self-audit facility to improve transparency; available data in real time, which aids in decision-making; digital approvals; document verification via QR code; increased processing efficiency and knowledge sharing among multiple agencies; improved interactivity with other government systems such as Customs and Excise Division automated system for customs data (ASYCUDA) system and the Immigration Division’s border management system; a pre-payment feature and the ability of users to make payments online for permits and licences.

These permits and licences include individual and group work permits from the National Security Ministry, licences of premises and import and export licences from the Health Ministry or Agriculture Ministry; certificates of origin from exporTT and TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce; and e-goods declaration from the TT Bureau of Standards all using credit or debit cards.

These are all meant to save time and cost through reducing physical visits to ministry offices, faster service delivery since applications will be instantly sent to approvers for processing and timely payments as they can be made 24/7 including weekends and public holidays.

Stakeholders on the platform include Ministries of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries; Works and Transport; National Security; Health; Finance; Labour; and Energy and Energy Industries; as well as designated representatives from the Chambers of Industry and Commerce, Customs Brokers and business associations.

Gopee-Scoon said, “Bringing this project to fruition has been a collaborative effort, involving countless hours of planning, co-ordination and dedication from various departments and people. The ministry has left no stone unturned in our pursuit to improving this robust platform that revolutionises the way services are accessed and delivered.”

She added, “TTBizLink demonstrates that even small developing economies are capable of being leaders in the implementation of transformative public sector projects that are as inclusive as they are transformative."

Gopee-Scoon said this project not only transforms the way government services are accessed, but also demonstrates its unwavering dedication to fostering economic growth.

President of the TT Chamber of Industry and Commerce Kiran Maharaj said the chamber – which is an authorised approver – will benefit since there will now be a shift from a once paper-based system to a digitalised process.

She said, “We at the chamber believe that TTBizLink advances the cause of export/import capacity for business operations who use the facilities. The Chamber will continue to make representation and to be the voice of business and we look forward to maintaining a productive working relationship with our government and other stakeholders and partners.”

Also in attendance at this event were Planning and Development Minister Pennelope Beckles; Minister in the Works and Transport Ministry Richie Sookhai; Minister of Digital Transformation Hassel Bacchus; independent senator Amrita Deonarine; Ayleen Alleyne-Ovid permanent secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry among other permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries; and Roger Roach president of the TT Manufacturers Association.