The Salvadoran government is actively pursuing customs integration with Guatemala and Honduras, aiming to strengthen and expedite trade with these nations. Miguel Kattan, the Secretary of Commerce and Investment, expressed this goal during a recent meeting between the government and the private sector.
«We believe that in the shortest possible time, we will be able to achieve integration, and by December, we will be fully integrated. We are extremely pleased with the work that has been done to facilitate trade in the past three and a half years,» stated the official during the meeting, where the progress of this initiative was discussed.
Furthermore, Kattan highlighted that El Salvador’s six border points are undergoing a modernization process, which will involve a total investment of $81 million.
«Our country has six of the most important border crossings where trade takes place. We have already fully developed the El Amatillo border crossing, with an investment of over $20 million. We have also made significant progress in the Anguiatú crossing, with an investment of $15 million, and in the coming months, we will be completing Las Chinamas, San Cristóbal, and La Hachadura,» he pointed out.
Benjamín Mayorga, the Director of Customs, indicated that El Amatillo has been identified as the integrated border crossing between El Salvador and Honduras, and it is expected to be equipped and jointly operated by the customs, migration, and agriculture institutions of both countries.
Likewise, the unification of El Salvador and Guatemala has been defined at the following points: La Ermita-Anguiatú, Pedro de Alvarado-La Hachadura, Metalío, and the Peripheral Customs at Puerto de Santo Tomás de Castilla on the Guatemalan Atlantic coast.
«The Customs Union process between El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras is a significant advancement in terms of trade facilitation and streamlining. It means that we will work as a single customs territory. Guatemala and Honduras are our main trading partners in the Central American region,» emphasized Mayorga.
Coexport applauds the initiative
Silvia Cuéllar, the President of the Corporation of Exporters of El Salvador (Coexport), views the efforts of the Bukele administration to promote customs integration favorably. In a recent interview, she affirmed that it has been one of the projects on which the private and public sectors have collaborated closely.
«In previous government periods, this was not achieved. As the private sector, gathered under an organization called CIFACIL (Inter-Guild Commission for Trade Facilitation), we expressed our position to this administration and explained the advantages. This is one of the issues we brought to the government’s attention and told them, ‘Look, it is important to do this.’ We reached an agreement, and they are doing everything they need to do to integrate,» she stated.
She also noted that with the government’s modernization project, the country now boasts the best border crossings in the region.
«El Salvador has the best and most modern border crossings, such as El Amatillo and La Hachadura. We love that because it means agility, speed, and that’s what we are aiming for with this customs union,» she declared.
The Salvadoran government’s determination to streamline customs integration with Guatemala and Honduras has garnered support from both the private sector and export-oriented organizations. As efforts continue to modernize and enhance border points, the anticipated full integration by December holds the promise of bolstering trade ties among these neighboring countries and fostering economic growth in the region.