Paraguay plans to modernize its 35 customs offices with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica). This is a cooperation of 11 million dollars that includes the purchase of equipment, training of personnel and the strengthening of the Sofia system.
This was announced on Wednesday (02.10.2019) by the Director of Customs, Julio Fernández, after the meeting with the President of the Republic, Mario Abdo Benítez at the Government Palace.
Fernandez reported that This is a cooperation worth 11 million dollars, the “largest and most extensive” that the Korean agency has made in favor of Customs, which will allow it to modernize its 35 offices nationwide.The institution will also make a contract allocation of 2 million dollars.
In this regard, the director explained that the assistance will be extended until 2023 and will subsequently be subject to an evaluation the following year.
He pointed out that The resources will be used to strengthen customs technological systems through the purchase of equipment and training. of officials by Korean experts with more than 40 years of experience.
Modern, transparent and efficient customs
"It is a very large cooperation that has to do with the modernization of Paraguay's technological system and we are really very satisfied because South Korea has one of the most modern Customs in the world and here we have the best experts of this Customs.", Fernandez explained.
He also highlighted that one of President Abdo Benítez's priorities is to leave a modern, transparent and efficient Customs Office, while pointing out that through the cooperation of Koica, progress will be made in this objective.
The senior state official estimates that the first results will be seen as early as the third quarter of next year, but he did comment that there are other cooperations in which progress is being made in terms of integrity with the support of other organizations.
He clarified that the 11 million dollars will not become part of the institution's budget, but will be transferred by the Korean agency according to the progress of the project.Part of the budget will be allocated to staff training, installation of new modules to strengthen the Sofia system and close all the gaps"He added.
He stressed that in this way Paraguay will have a much more efficient customs system in terms of risks, cargo, monitoring centers and technologies, as well as a large amount of first-class equipment that a modern Customs Office needs.
New stage of cooperation
For his part, the South Korean ambassador to the Government, Min Sik Ahn, recalled that since 2011 Paraguay has become a strategic ally and in this framework a new stage of cooperation with the South American country has begun.
"This project could make customs procedures more transparent and we hope that through it we can Improve Customs Management from Paraguay”, he finally expressed.
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will provide assistance for 11 million dollars to modernize @aduanapyThis will be achieved through the signing of an agreement made today with the National Government, within the framework of a program that will extend until 2023. pic.twitter.com/1AOnf6l5l5
— Presidency Paraguay (@PresidenciaPy) October 2, 2019
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