The Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), successfully concluded the 2025 Central American Tour of the border posts of the Pacific Corridor. This tour, carried out from 23 to the 31 of January of 2025, covered a route of 1,900 kilometers and visited 10 border control points, with the aim of evaluating the progress in infrastructure, technology and customs procedures in the region.
In detail, Francisco A. Lima Mena, Secretary General of SIECA, together with ambassadors and senior officials from the EU and the IDB, led the tour of the following border posts:
1. Canoas Pass (Panama).
2. Canoas Pass (Costa Rica).
3. Peña Blanca (Costa Rica).
4. White Rocks (Nicaragua).
5. Guasaule (Nicaragua).
6. El Guasaule (Honduras).
7. El Amatillo (Honduras
8. El Amatillo (El Salvador) (Integrated Border Post authorities from both countries in one place HN-SV)
9. Agua Caliente Integrated Border Post (Honduras and Guatemala)
10. El Florido Integrated Border Post (Honduras and Guatemala).
According to SIECA, one of the Main achievements of this tour was the verification of progress in the implementation of the Central American Digital Trade Platform (PDCC), a key tool for improving trade flows in the region. The PDCC facilitates efficiency and speed in trade processes by enabling interoperability between institutions linked to trade procedures, which contributes to strengthening the competitiveness of countries and the Central American Economic Integration Subsystem.
The visit also allowed for the evaluation of the infrastructure and technology conditions at border posts, identifying areas for improvement and discussing the technical resources needed to optimize merchandise clearance processes. In bilateral meetings with customs authorities and local coordinators, experiences were shared and opportunities were analyzed to continue promoting regional trade.
What do the key results mean for integration? «At SIECA, we often say that 'getting to know Central America from the field' is a key vision for our work. Doing integration from the offices is one thing, but doing it from the border posts along the corridor is complementary, extremely important and fundamental work. This approach allows us to better understand the difficulties facing the region, but it also gives us a clear perspective of how Central America is moving towards achieving its dream of a solid and functional customs union.«, He highlighted Francisco A. Lima Mena, Secretary General of SIECA, in response to a query Customs News.
With this first-hand knowledge, authorities will be able to make informed decisions to strengthen infrastructure and optimize border crossings in the Pacific Corridor, a strategic axis for trade and competitiveness in Central America, thus contributing to strengthening regional integration.
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.
