This beginning of the year 2022, Uruguay was recognized as a “Featured Country” in the bulletin published by the Regional Vice Presidency of the World Customs Organization (OMA). The reasons that prompted the delivery of the new edition to the head of the General Directorate of Customs, Jaime Borgiani, are the efforts made in matters of customs modernization, strengthening of control and facilitation of trade.
That is why Uruguay (a South American country that shares borders with Argentina and Brazil) It joins Chile, Panama, Honduras, among other countries highlighted above through their customs.
From the Regional Vice Presidency they pointed out Customs News The monthly publication is produced with the purpose of “introducing the customs administrations of the Americas and the Caribbean region, as well as their authorities and their vision of work.” In view of this, it begins with general, commercial and customs information about Uruguay.
According to their business profile, the main ones are indicated Import products: vehicles, chemicals for agro-food, technological plastics, clothing and footwear, chemical substances, pharmaceutical products, auto parts, paints and varnishes, whose countries of origin are Brazil, China, Argentina and the United States. Meanwhile, the fundamentals export products They are beef, cellulose, soybeans, dairy products, electricity, wood, meat by-products, rice and pharmaceutical products, which are sent to China, the European Union, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Egypt and Mexico.
Likewise, a interview to the National Director of Customs of Uruguay on the changes and modernization of the customs system. In this regard, Jaime Borgiani commented on the pillars of action and the most significant achievements that have been obtained, among other topics.
The public accountant who began his career in 1982 at the Uruguayan National Customs Directorate, summarized his management in three basic concepts: transparency, commitment and strategic planningTo achieve these goals, he said he had the full support of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as well as the private sector.
With respect to achievements obtainedBorgiani stated that “customs managed to maintain and improve the quality of the service provided during the pandemic, with the available human and material resources, implementing procedures aimed at simplifying procedures and facilitating trade. It has also achieved greater efficiency in its control processes.”
He also detailed that during 2021, the total number of customs operations registered in the Customs Management System -LUCIA- was similar to that before the pandemic and the collection grew by 43%.
He also pointed out the Strengthening controls on the logistics chain of exports, increasing the traceability of the loads that leave the country as part of the strategy to combat drug trafficking. In this line, Borgiani stressed that "it has been given boosting the project for the implementation of the UN and WCO Container Programme which will allow us to strengthen the structures, processes and capacities to minimize the exploitation of maritime containers in the exploitation of illicit activities."
Regarding the process of adv modernizationIn addition, the head of the National Customs Directorate indicated that the process “has been continuous and has had the virtue of, at each step, deepening, reorienting and making the path laid out more efficient.”
Referring to the current global pandemic scenario, The head of the Uruguayan Customs said that the modernization process and the commitment assumed by officials has made it possible to ensure the continuity of the tasks, as well as to strengthen the presence at the border and facilitate trade, improving the efficiency of the respective controls.
Specifically, the customs modernization process in Uruguay, “has managed in recent years to achieve the strategic objectives that allow us to fulfill our mission: to ensure the security of Uruguayan society and support the economic development of the country,” concluded Jaime Borgiani.WCO Regional Vice-Presidency “Featured Country” Newsletter)
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.
