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How do you define the customs broker after 101 years of prominence in foreign trade?
The customs broker is a foreign trade professional with a number of responsibilities and assumes the commitment to carry out the operations entrusted to him in an efficient manner. Specifically, he is responsible for verifying the conditions in which the packages arrived, preparing the customs destinations based on the documents required by customs regulations, describing and classifying the goods in terms of tariffs, determining customs duties and other charges when applicable, among other important tasks.
Based on this importance of the customs broker, what is the progress of the bill that the Customs Brokers Center has submitted to the National Congress to become a Public College of Customs Brokers?
The bill for membership was approved by the General Legislation Committee and has been passed to the Economy and Budget Committee of the Chamber of Deputies for its treatment. It happens that urgent matters delayed its legislative treatment, despite this, our Customs Brokers Center together with the deputy from Formosa Díaz Roig permanently follow up because it is our intention to generate the necessary consensus to be able to promote its approval. Membership is the link that is needed to hierarchize the profession of customs broker. That is, being a public college we would have the register of customs brokers from all over the country while being a Center, the association is voluntary.
In this regard, has the Customs Brokers Centre increased the number of members?
Fortunately, yes. Our Customs Brokerage Center increased by 900 associates, totaling more than four thousand.
What achievements are worth highlighting from your management as President of the Customs Brokers Center?
The important achievement is the authorization to issue certificates of origin for products that are exported under preferential tariff treatment to the member countries of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), established by Resolution 127-2013.
In addition, in recent years there has been a generational change in Customs Brokers, who have delegated the management of their companies to their children, nephews or trusted young people. Therefore, the CDA has developed during this administration an important work of technological renovation, training and use of new computer tools, which allow a fluid and agile exchange with the new generations of professionals. Because smart phones, notebooks, tablets and the latest technological developments allow today's professionals to be connected and informed instantly, we have been adapting the means of communication with our partners, "updating" the forms of daily exchange.
In this context, we developed a modern, agile and complete website, which is updated daily with the latest news from AFIP, new provisions and actions carried out by the CDA board of directors for the benefit of its members.
At the same time, a group of permanently trained technicians are online and on the phone to meet the demands of associates immediately. All this occurred during this administration, which has understood that online and permanent contact with young dispatchers is an imperative need that requires technological progress.
The other priority of this Board of Directors, which I have the honor of chairing, is to form an Institution that does not really discriminate against members from the interior of the country, who have the same needs as their colleagues from Buenos Aires and who for years have been marginalized from the benefits enjoyed by members from the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires.
For this reason, we developed a program that allows us to transmit in real time, through the videoconferencing system, all the talks, debates and presentations that we carry out permanently. The implementation of the Skype connection system, for the partners in the interior, is another important achievement to improve communications.
We also carried out actions to benefit the new subsidiaries, such as the purchase of properties in Paso de los Libres, Córdoba, the remodeling of the Rosario building and the acquisition of properties in Mar del Plata and recently Mendoza. All of this is part of a growth plan designed at the beginning of our management, which has the sole objective of permanently improving services to members.
In addition, we strive to promote a healthy lifestyle for our members by promoting sports. To this end, we signed an agreement with the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) where customs agents and their families can practice sports.
Along the same lines, we promote culture, we organize painting and photography contests such as those exhibited in the spaces of our headquarters.
You were elected President of the Centro Despachantes de Aduana for the 2010-2013 period after winning the elections with 67% of the votes. Will you run for office to continue your term?
Yes, I will apply to continue with this management in order to sponsor and defend the collective interests of the associates so that they are considered in accordance with the delicate mission they performed before the public authorities and the trade itself. At the same time, seeking the permanent training of the customs agent, taking him to the interior of the country, conducting courses, seminars, tours to the branches we have in Argentina. In short, my management is at the service of the associate, thinking about what we can give him, what else he needs and how else we can fulfill his needs. This is essential.
And who is Gustavo López?
He is a person who is happy with what he does.
You define yourself as a happy person, who inspires you?
I am inspired by my father.
Besides enjoying your work, what activities do you do in your free time?
In my free time I really enjoy spending time with my family, my wife and my children.
Based on your experience as a talented young man who heads a 101-year-old institution, what advice would you give to young people starting out in an activity?
My recommendation is always to do what you like. It is not easy, but I insist, study and fight to do what makes you happy.
With these words and a smile, Gustavo López ends the dialogue, a unique person who, from his space in life, forges values that ADUANA NEWS has the pleasure of spreading.
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.
