Government is planning to have up and running by September a new advanced cargo information system that’s expected to speed up the processing of cargo at the ports of entry.

Introducing the enabling customs amendment bill in the house of assembly today, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn said it was to facilitate modernisation of the customs department as part of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan.

Mr. Straughn pointed out that its part of a region-wide upgrade of customs systems that had been agreed more than a decade ago.

Mr. Straughn says a speedier and more efficient cargo system could help keep the cost of goods down and increase the speed of doing business.