The Nicaraguan side is all ready for cargo transported to and from the port of Limón to save 250 kilometers, but the poor condition of a section of road in Costa Rica is preventing it.
The idea for the construction of the bridge over the San Juan River within the territory of Nicaragua, was to speed up freight between that country and the ports in Limon, on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.
Employers are demanding greater efficiency and speed in the process of monitoring and reviewing merchandise in the country's customs offices.
Between three hours and several weeks is the time it can take a van with merchandise to have its permit to enter or leave the territory processed at the office of El Guasaule in Somotillo, Chinandega, the third most important border in the country, through which 300 to 400 trucks pass per day."The problem is repeated in the 11 air, sea and land customs offices in Nicaragua."
The government has committed to remove the fee of 0.26% on the value of goods for inspecting cargo via scanner.
"What is (now) our responsibility is to finish reviewing what will happen with the mechanism, what the cost will be, which we are defining. We are seeing what will happen to exports, imports from free zones, what will happen with international traffic, but what is noteworthy is that what has been agreed is an elimination of the ad valorem (tax)," said President of the Superior Council of Private Enterprise (Cosep), Joseph Adam Aguerri.
From the border with Mexico up to Darien in Panama, customs offices are hindering trade and conspiring against the region's development.
According to the Corporation of Guatemalan Customs Agents (CAAG), delays suffered by transport carriers alone make goods 5% more expensive for Central American consumers. But added to this is 30% for sanitary and phytosanitary barriers and non-tariff measures that are applied in each country.
Entrepreneurs and drivers and transporters indicate that there are a lot of inconveniences in the customs office at Port Corinto.
Truckers for example, complain of constant fines, confiscation of vans and goods without any legal reason. They are also required to pay for stays in the harbor of Punta Icaco because front loading machines are only available at night.
The Central Council of Transport has announced a three-day strike in protest against El Salvador levying a tax on freight carriers of between $35 and $250.
Laprensa.com.ni reports that "the measure will affect all regional trade, because the rest of the international freight carriers from the isthmus will join the strike 'in solidarity' in order to send a message to other governments who have created new taxes on trade merchandise ... ".
In Nicaragua the Concession Act for Non Intrusive Inspection has been approved, allowing the award for a period of 15 years of a contract to a Panamanian company.
According to the deputy Jenny Martinez, with the award (prior to approval of the Act) the company Alvimer Internacional are ensuring the use of modern technology scanners to move goods, which will save time for the commercial sector and therefore also save money.