Customs authorities from Honduras and Guatemala met this Sunday (13.09.2020) to work on fine-tuning and implementing strategies to facilitate and expedite trade within the framework of the Customs Union launched in 2017 by both countries.
The meeting was held in the Corinto sector, on the border between both nations, with the participation of the Superintendent of the Tax and Customs Administration of Guatemala, Werner Florencio Ovalle, and the Executive Director of the Customs Administration of Honduras, Juan José Vides.
Also present were the Honduran Vice Minister of Economic Development, David Alvarado, the Guatemalan Vice Minister of Economy, Alba Edith Flores, and the head of the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), Honduran Melvin Redondo, the Honduran Presidency indicated.
The authorities of the two countries discussed joint work that would allow "Strengthen the technical work carried out in the present as part of deep integration, as well as the implementation of the Advance Import Declaration"He added.
The Advance Declaration of Importation of Goods allows the entire process of capturing, uploading supporting documentation, transmitting information and paying tax obligations to be carried out "in advance, speeding up the process of clearing goods," according to the information.
The purpose of the Advance Declaration is to "streamline and simplify customs operations, making the clearance process easier for the importer«.
"We are pleased to see the progress of facilitation actions within the framework of the customs union, something unprecedented in the American continent and the most efficient form of integration between two nations," said Vides.
He stressed that the facilitation of trade between the two countries reflects "the will of our people to achieve economic development, in compliance with the guidelines of our presidents."
The streamlining of transportation, simplification and reduction of costs in import processes, efficiency in procedures, elimination of duplication of procedures are some of the achievements reached between Honduras and Guatemala as part of the customs integration process by carrying out "the work in the same facility," he explained.
Meanwhile Ovalle expressed his satisfaction with what has been achieved so far at the Integrated Border Post in Corinto, which is an "emblematic example of integration."
He also announced that there is an intention to turn the border point into "a model customs office at the Central American level."
"We will do this by integrating technological, automated and simplifying elements, as well as by training our staff to provide better service to our users and become an example and a reference in the region," said Ovalle.
Authorities from Guatemala and Honduras conducted a tour to supervise progress in the construction of the merchandise inspection ramp, transportation exit booths, fiber optic installation, housing modules and the second Trade Facilitation Center.
The Customs Union process is based on the Central American Economic Integration model, with schemes to facilitate the free movement of goods and people, and seeks to liberalize 75% of trade between the two countries to make them "more competitive and productive."
The customs union between Guatemala and Honduras came into force in June 2017, a process that was created based on the legal foundation of the legal instruments of Central American economic integration.
To implement the process of deepening integration, Integrated Border Posts have been created, which have Trade Facilitation Centers to guarantee the smooth passage of goods and Control Centers to handle goods exempt from free circulation, according to the information.
Source: Reuters
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