In recognition of the achievements and good practices of the customs service, the Regional Vice Presidency of the World Customs Organization (WCO) reported this Friday (15.10.2021) that Chile is the “Featured Country of the Month”.
The newsletter was delivered to National Director of Customs, José Ignacio Palma Sotomayor, who has been in charge since February 25, 2019, of the oldest public organization in the nation located on the western coast of the Southern Cone of South America.
Chile thus joins the customs administrations mentioned by the WCO, such as Honduras, Antigua and Barbuda, among others, in view of their regional contribution to advances in customs modernization and innovation.
The WCO publication begins with the “Trade Profile of Chile” and highlights the main export products linked to the mining sector, mainly copper, iron ores and concentrates. Meanwhile, the main import products of the non-fuel sector are machinery, vehicles of all types, food, technology and clothing. It also details the Trade amounts in the first half of 2021 totaling USD 78.436,5 million FOB, representing an increase of 32,2% in relation to the first six months of 2020. Regarding The taxes collected during the first half of 2021 totaled USD 7.822 million, 35,3% more of that recorded for the same period in 2020.
In the edition, Palma Sotomayor explained the pillars of success: “The management of the National Customs Service is framed in the Strategic Planning 2019-2024, which has a sseries of objectives that seek greater efficiency and effectiveness in the different areas of border control, monitoring and protection work." In this regard, he highlighted the incorporation of the “Security and data management”, as well as the Intensive use of information and communications technologies, especially during the pandemic.
The National Director also indicated that "the entity is based on the conviction that Customs must adapt to changes of the country and the world.” And he pointed out that for a decade “customs modernization has been embedded in all our activities.” He added that this means investment in human resources, infrastructure, technologies for greater oversight and regulatory adaptation in accordance with Chilean laws and international agreements.
In closing, Palma stressed how the Customs modernization made it possible to meet the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic: “Our response was given in a very limited time frame, which can be verified given that Chilean foreign trade continued to operate relatively normally and, at the turn of the year, has had a significant increase.” Finally, the official said that customs was “a relevant actor for the importation of medical supplies; during the pandemic we coordinated with institutions and companies in these processes, generating facilitation and simplification tools". (Bulletin «Featured Country Chile», Regional Vice-Presidency of the WCO)
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.
