In order to streamline the processes of import and export of agricultural, livestock and hydrobiological inputs and products, the virtual platform VISAR online was enabled in Guatemala.
This tool is aimed at the productive sectors, importers of products of animal and vegetable origin, agricultural inputs and exporters of agricultural, livestock and hydrobiological products, which will now reduce time in their efforts with the use of cutting-edge technology, typical of the digital era, informed the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA).
Local authorities informed that as of November 11, exporters interested in carrying out their procedures electronically will be able to receive training on the use of the Certification of Origin in the online platform of the Customs Management System.
Exporting companies will be able to register by phone or by sending an e-mail to the Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE), announced the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI).
In El Salvador, since May 28, it is possible to carry out the digital procedures for the Electronic Authorization of Import Visas for medicines and medical supplies.
With this new system, response times will be reduced and supply of drugs and medical supplies will be guaranteed during and after Covid-19 pandemic, informed Central Reserve Bank (BCR).
Local authorities plan to implement at the end of 2019 the service of Advance Declaration, which will serve for the generation of a Virtual Customs platform for exports, which would be operational in the first half of 2020.
Gustavo Villatoro, director of Customs, told Elmundo.sv that "... The advance declaration itself will be used by the exporter to generate the required customs documents.
Five months after the regulations for the creation of the Single Window of Procedures for the Colon Free Zone were approved in Panama, businessmen are asking for their implementation to be accelerated.
The Dominican Republic's free trade zones guild promises to reduce response times with the implementation of the Single Window for Foreign Trade of the General Directorate of Customs.
Simplifying procedures, transparency and security of processes, reduction of response times of requests, reduction of costs of stationery and office equipment, are some of the benefits that will enjoy for companies in areas with the implementation of the Single Window, informed the union.
After two years of non-operation, El Salvador's government and business associations agreed to reactivate the institution dedicated to decision-making on customs matters and trade agreements.
The private sector was represented by the Presidents and Executive Directors of the guilds ASI, COEXPORT, CAMARASAL, CAMAGRO, AMCHAM, CAMTEX and ADES, which are part of the Inter-union Commission for Trade Facilitation (CIFACIL) and participate with voice and vote within the Committee, informed the Salvadoran government.
In Panama, the Colon Free Zone established requirements for the issuance of special permits for the marketing of cigarettes, tobacco products and pharmaceuticals.
By means of Resolution No.008-2019, published in La Gaceta Oficial on April 25, 2019, it was informed that companies will have a maximum term of 120 calendar days to comply with the requirements of special permits for import, transfer, marketing, export and re-export of cigarettes and tobacco products.
The costs incurred by businessmen in Nicaragua, because of excessive procedures and low efficiency of foreign trade systems is 25% additional to the value of the goods, while in El Salvador and Costa Rica, amounts to 18% and 16%, respectively.
A study by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) specifies that the costs paid by businessmen in Nicaragua, because of excessive procedures and low efficiency of foreign trade systems is 25.3% additional to the value of the goods, followed by El Salvador with 18.3%, Costa Rica with 16.3%, Honduras with 15.8%, Guatemala with 14% and Panama with 9%.
From April, exporters and companies established in Panama's free trade zones will be able to carry out online procedures such as Declaration of Commercial Movement, Certification of Origin and Determination of Origin.
The companies in free trade zones that will be able to perform the three new online procedures will be those governed by Law 32, explained the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) in a statement.
Since the new computer system was implemented in El Salvador, it is estimated that waiting times for imported goods moving in the Port of Acajutla have been reduced by up to 60%.
The General Directorate of Customs (DGA) reported that since November 15 last year is in operation the computer system "Sidunea World", which aims to reduce the steps in the process of importing goods.
Since November 15th, Acajutla's customs office in El Salvador will operate with the computer system "Sidunea World", which will reduce the process of importing goods.
From the statement of the Ministry of Finance:
November 12th, 2018. Because of several months of work by Customs, on November 15th, the General Directorate of Customs (DGA) consolidates the progressive implementation of the computer system known as "Sidunea World", which means starting with the development of the urgently needed "Paperless Customs" in El Salvador.
In Honduras, from October 1, processing of International Phytosanitary Export Certificates can be done digitally through use of an electronic signature and stamp.
Honduran authorities reported that the National Service of Agrifood Health and Safety (SENASA), at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG), has launched online processing of the certificate.
In Guatemala, since the beginning of September a new version of the Electronic System for Export Authorization has been available which includes changes that make it easier to process requests.
The Guatemalan Association of Exporters (Agexport) reported that as of Monday, September 3, the newly designed and reengineered Electronic System for Export Authorization (SEADEX) has been available to exporters, a platform of the Single Window for Exports (VUPE) ) that is more intuitive and easier to use when filling in and sending documents and complying with non-tax export requirements.
The tax authority has launched a new electronic platform, which lets exporters to register in only 24 hours.
With this new method available through the Virtual Agency, wait times have been considerably reduced, since the inscription in the categories of habitual exporter, optional and special regime for the refund of tax credits had until now been carried out face-to-face and as a whole they took on average 67 days.