The National Customs Service of Chile adhered to the Clean Production Agreement (APL) which seeks to improve sustainability and environmental protection standards in the logistics and commercial chain of the Tarapacá region (north).
This is an unprecedented agreement that considers 51 actions agreed upon between the public and private sectors. to develop an efficient, safe and quality industry.
The signing of the agreement took place at the Paseo Puerto de Iquique and brought together representatives of unions, companies and public services that make up the Logistics and Commercial Consortium of Tarapacá, under the work and guidance of the Sustainability and Climate Change Agency.
The activity was led by the mayor of Tarapacá, Miguel Angel Quezada, and the National Director of Customs, José Ignacio Palma, who agreed to highlight the instrument as an example of integration and collaborative work.
Joint modernization
Mayor Miguel Angel Quezada praised the initiative and stated that "The signing of the APL represents a great opportunity for the region, which adds to the actions that we are carrying out in the government of President Sebastián Piñera, to manage waste management in a more sustainable way. Therefore, it is very important that companies develop their practices in this line, since we are all important actors in achieving this objective.
The National Director of Customs, José Ignacio Palma, highlighted the importance of the Agreement and its effects on logistics and international trade in Tarapacá.
He added that "In Customs we are developing a modernization process that aims to eliminate face-to-face procedures and new inspection methodologies. All of this is based on the large volumes of information that we handle and that require technological tools to support decision-making.”.
Palma Sotomayor added that in the case of Iquique and included in this agreement, an Electronic Import Visa project is being evaluated to link the port systems with the Free Trade Zone. “We have a work agenda and we want to move forward quickly in this matter, given that our goal and that of everyone else is to eliminate face-to-face procedures for the transfer of goods from the primary zone to the free zone, which will favor speed and control over the loads.”
The President of the Board of Directors of the Puerto Iquique Company (EPI), Jose Manuel Mendia, said that the APL reflects EPI's mission as a facilitator of logistics in the Tarapacá Region and the Andean Macroregion.
The president of the Logistics Consortium, Alfredo LeitonHe noted that "The APL has brought together wills, ideas and proposals, strengthening the link with all the actors in the logistics chain as a sign of commitment to the development of the region, the industry and the inhabitants of Tarapacá. Together we have outlined a management route that will allow us to continue betting on a safe, transparent, competitive industry that is at the forefront of new challenges."".
The director of the Agency for Sustainability and Climate Change, Giovanni Calderón, he said that «Iquique has become one of the main ports for the entry and exit of products. In just 15 years, cargo traffic has increased by more than 50%. The great virtue of this agreement is that it addresses port services as an integrated system, which considers logistics in all its areas. The APL that we are signing will allow for the establishment of standards that will provide greater sustainability and improve the productivity of the port as a whole.«.
The APL has the support of the Regional Government, the Ministries of Environment, Energy, Transport, Corfo, SAG, Customs, Maritime Government of Iquique and Seremi of Health of Tarapacá.
Customs and SAG Coordination
Customs and SAG will coordinate their efforts to expand the inspection capacity of products moving between the Port and the Free Trade Zone, In addition to the implementation of automation and simplification of procedures, the companies will also generate solutions to improve the conditions of access and exit from the port area, as well as the transit system for cargo transport between the port and the Free Trade Zone.
The APL will also address the management of priority waste according to the REP Law, efficient energy management in companies and measurement of carbon footprint, prevention of occupational risks, development of social responsibility activities and training in sustainability issues for at least 80% of port sector workers.
Participation of companies
Representatives of the private sector are involved in the initiative: the Iquique Port Company, Iquique International Terminal, Zofri SA, the transport trade associations: Comando Defensa Puerto Iquique AG and Pacífico Puerto Iquique AG; the SITRANS and CONTOPSA container depots, the Free Trade Zone Users Association AG and SM4 Cargo Services.
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