El Salvador’s General Directorate of Customs aims to eliminate paper-based procedures for international cargo clearance this year, replacing them with quick response (QR) codes.
Director Benjamín Mayorga stated in an interview with Diálogo 21 that the transition will require private sector investment, as trucking companies must provide drivers with smartphones and internet access.
The government continues investing in key border customs points, including La Hachadura, San Cristóbal, and Las Chinamas. The goal is to replicate the modern infrastructure of El Amatillo and Anguiatú.
El Salvador joined the Central American customs union in 2018 to streamline trade with Guatemala and Honduras. While El Amatillo was integrated with Honduras in December 2023, plans for integrating Anguiatú and La Ermita with Guatemala remain unconfirmed.
Mayorga emphasized that El Salvador will cover operational costs at Anguiatú, where Guatemala’s officials are expected to relocate soon.