The National Customs Service rendered its “Public Account 2020, Management 2019” virtually, with a limited number of people in the room and with all the preventive health measures that have been put in place to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
From the institution's remodeled Esmeralda Building, located in the historic center of Valparaíso, the National Director, Jose Ignacio Palma, highlighted a large part of the tasks developed by the Service and its more than 2 thousand officials during 2019, among which he highlighted the institutional view regarding the urgency of moving forward steadily in the digital transformation of all its processes and towards the intelligent use of the large volumes of data that Customs manages in its systems for the inspection of foreign trade operations and control of people from Visviri, in the far north of the country, to Puerto Williams in the south.
Regarding the first aspect, during 2019 Customs has achieved the digitalization of more than 50% of its procedures. These include the request for passes for users who have vehicles purchased in the Free Trade Zones and the fire brigade franchise.
In this same area the long-awaited system was implemented. Electronic Dispatch Folder which optimizes inspection and interaction with Customs Agents, and 17 digital projects were carried out that allowed reductions in the amount of paperwork and time with respect to international trade operations and the flow of passengers and vehicles.
In addition, the objective “ was incorporated as one of the axes that support the future development of the service“Data Security and Management” in the Strategic Planning 2019-2024, which addresses the need to obtain greater efficiency, effectiveness, and strategic decision-making based on the analysis of the large amount of data and information flow managed by the Service.
José Ignacio Palma also highlighted the importance of inter-institutional collaborative work, such as the one developed with the Internal Revenue Service (SII), the General Treasury of the Republic (TGR) and the Public Prosecutor's Office, among others, which have allowed the simplification and streamlining of a significant number of processes.
Although the Public Accounts are participatory exercises regarding the management of the previous year, the complex national and global situation caused by the pandemic occupied a relevant place. The National Director indicated that “History offers multiple examples of how crises similar to the one we are experiencing today represent a real opportunity for the best in people and their abilities to come to light in the service of others.".
He added that “Our Service and its officers have thus understood this contingency, and with effort, creativity, enthusiasm and enormous commitment, have worked during all these weeks not only to ensure the continuity of operations and protection of borders, but also in the development of different tools that facilitate actions related to foreign trade."
2019 in figures
Regarding the figures that reflect the work carried out during 2019, the main indicators of the Public Account 2020, Management 2019 show that the National Customs Service managed to raise U.S. $ 13.611 millones, corresponding to 28% of the taxes collected by Chile.
As for the exports, US$71.183 million FOB were processed, with the main buyers being China, the USA and Japan. Import transactions reached US$ 64.625 billion CIF, with the main products entering the country being fuel, automobiles, cell phones and meat.
As for the way in which goods enter and leave, the sea route was the main one, accounting for 96,5% of exports and 88,1% of imports.
The oversight work of the National Customs Service officials was also key to protecting the country's borders and citizens, More than 3 tons of drugs were seized throughout Chile with 1.284 successful procedures
It is also iSeizure of 16,6 million cigarettes, which controlled tax evasion of US$ 57 million
Another notable figure corresponds to the confiscation of 13 million counterfeit products, mainly toys, cell phone accessories, clothing and footwear.
Customs controls also allowed the seizure of 5,1 million products potentially harmful to health, such as cosmetics, medical devices, medicines and electronic cigarettes, goods that did not have the approval of the health authorities.
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