Global e-Trading Services will start providing Government electronic trading services for the submission of import and export declarations on January 1.

The Commerce, Industry & Technology Bureau said move will see it compete with the other service provider Tradelink Electronic Commerce.

The bureau expects the competition to benefit traders with more competitive prices, and better service quality and value-added services.

Since 1997, Tradelink has offered services in a number of Government-related trade documents under an exclusive franchise which will end on Wednesday.

In March, pursuant to a tendering process, a contract was signed appointing Global e-Trading as an additional provider of Government electronic trading services from January 1 for import and export declarations and dutiable commodities permits.

A separate contract has been signed with Tradelink for it to continue providing Government electronic trading services beyond 2003.

Under the contract signed in March, Global e-Trading will provide services for dutiable commodities permits also. The Government expects it to roll out the services later in 2004.

Government electronic trading services include:

* capturing data from traders;

* verifying data;

* submitting the data to Government back-end systems for processing;

* collecting fees where applicable on behalf of the Government;

* forwarding related messages between the Government and traders; and,

* providing end-user software and related training to traders.