Guatemala launched this Tuesday (30.04.2024/XNUMX/XNUMX) its Maritime Single Window (VUMAR), a unique digital platform for sharing and exchanging information between the authorities that carry out the free trade process for vessels that call at the ports of the Central American country.
At the presentation ceremony, the authorities stated that the tool has been developed within the framework of the modernisation of inter-institutional port controls and the new maritime clearance model.
“The VUMAR is born from the National Dispatch Time Study,” stressed the SAT, who hopes that this digital tool will improve trade and the facilitation of transport. In this line, it offers different benefitsIn detail: modernization and automation of processes, electronic receipt of documentation, reduction in the use of paper, strengthening of port controls and security, reduction of costs and times in the process of clearing merchandise, as well as the articulation of the customs system.
Thus, Guatemala is positioned as the first country in the Central American region to adapt this "recommended practice" to comply with the Convention that contains measures that are deemed necessary and practicable to facilitate international maritime traffic (IMO FAL 65) and implement the commitments ratified in the Trade Facilitation Agreement of the WTO, energized in the SAFE Standards Framework of the OMA.
Focus on collaboration
The authorities highlighted the joint work since the project was developed in a coordinated manner by the Superintendency of Tax Administration and the Ministry of National Defense, under the inter-institutional cooperation with the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, as well as the Guatemalan Migration Institute, with the support of Alianza Global.
They also stated that the signing of the Implementation Protocol was carried out on April 26 by the SAT Customs Superintendent (Edwin Curtidor) and the Vice Ministers of the Ministries of Defense (Edy Santiago Chinchilla), Agriculture (María Eugenia Montepeque), Health (Jose Domato Camey) and the Deputy Director of Immigration Control (Raul Gongora Benitez).
Finally, Guatemala indicated that the VUMAR will be inaugurated on May 02, 2024 in Ports.
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.
