5 March 2026, Serbithang: Representatives from the Bhutan National Single Window (BNSW) project visited the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) to discuss the potential integration of NBC’s technical permit and clearance processes into the national digital trade platform.
The BNSW initiative, supported by the World Bank, aims to establish a unified digital platform that connects all trade-related agencies in Bhutan. The system is designed to serve as a single entry point for traders to submit applications and supporting documentation required for permits, licenses, and certificates.
Currently, traders must navigate multiple agencies and systems to complete trade procedures, often resulting in duplication of documents and repeated submissions. Through the BNSW platform, applicants will log in once using the National Digital Identity (NDI) and submit a single application, after which the system will automatically route the request to the relevant agencies for review and approval.
Once fully implemented, the BNSW is expected to significantly streamline trade procedures by reducing the current multi-step process for import and export clearances. The platform will also enable improved data sharing among agencies, promoting a whole-of-government approach and enhancing efficiency, transparency, and compliance.
During the meeting, discussions focused on NBC’s regulatory and technical role in reviewing biodiversity-related trade. Key points included clarifying the scope of ornamental seeds and plant materials requiring NBC review, identifying the data and documents needed for technical assessments, and discussing proposed workflows, decision timelines, and system interaction mechanisms.
The discussion also revisited earlier consultations regarding the routing of imported live plants to NBC for biodiversity and invasive species assessments, the monitoring of plant and animal exports through HS code-based classification and declared end use, and the management of temporary export and re-import of biological materials to improve traceability.
Currently, NBC mainly provides technical clearance for the movement of genetic resources for research and development. Integration with the BNSW platform is expected to improve coordination among agencies and provide greater visibility on the status of applications and related processes.
The BNSW platform is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2031.
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