A delegation of technicians hired by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA, in English) presented a modernization plan for the National Customs Directorate of Paraguay.
Director Julio Fernández and Daehwan Kim, Director of the KOICA office in Paraguay, also participated in the meeting held on Tuesday (20.07.2021), the Paraguayan customs administration reported in a statement.
The initiative is aimed at contributing to effective and efficient customs management. In this regard, the head of Paraguayan Customs, Julio Fernandez, said: “We hope that, with the help of Korea, we can turn Customs into one of the most modern in Latin America. We know that Korea has one of the most efficient customs in the world and we have made progress in recovering the technological independence of the SOFIA customs data system and in everything that can facilitate the work of the technical mission.”
According to official information, the modernization tasks are carried out through a non-reimbursable loan of around 11 million dollars and include the incorporation of equipment, software and professional training for Customs officials in Paraguay and South Korea. The arrival of the mission was delayed for a few months due to the problem of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the progress of vaccination worldwide and in Paraguay made its arrival possible recently.
"The project underway is called Customs Clearance Modernization and Capacity Building of the General Directorate of Customs of Paraguay, for which they have contracted, via tender, the company Korea Trade Network that will be in charge of the general administration of the project," the statement said.
It is worth mentioning that trade facilitation plays a fundamental role in the competitiveness, growth and development of countries. In this framework, Paraguay has undertaken a customs reform to ensure stable public funds (in line with the increase in tariffs and taxes), achieve sustainable economic growth and prevent corruption.Press release from the National Customs Directorate)
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