On Tuesday (27.09.2022) in Guatemala City, Central America officially launched the Global Trade Facilitation Program of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (SECO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO).
This flagship capacity development project, funded by SECO and WCO, was promoted by the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Central American Customs Committee in charge of Guatemala, together with SIECA, with "the objective of giving Technical/financial assistance to the Customs of El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, in their process of accession to the WCO Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC)”according to the statement.
The authorities assured that "the Revised Kyoto Convention is one of the main WCO Trade Facilitation instruments" and said the instrument "It seeks to facilitate trade by harmonizing and simplifying customs procedures and practices, providing and recommending modern customs standards, techniques and processes, improving the business climate and competitiveness of countries through greater investment attraction and global positioning.
"To date, 133 Member States have ratified it," they said.
The launching ceremony was attended by the Pro Tempore President of the Central American Customs Committee and Superintendent of Customs of Guatemala, Werner Ovalle Ramírez; the Secretary General of SIECA, Francisco A. Lima Mena; representing the Embassy of Switzerland in Guatemala, Roberta de Beltranena; the Regional Vice President of the WCO for the Americas and the Caribbean, Marilu Llerena, the Directors of Customs of El Salvador, Samadhy Martínez and of Panama, Tayra Barsallo; and representatives of the Customs of Honduras and Nicaragua attended virtually.
Aduana News is the first Argentine customs newspaper to launch its digital version. With 20 years of experience, its publications and initiatives aim to provide the most relevant knowledge on customs issues in order to contribute to safe trade in the region.
