The General Directorate of Customs (DGA) formally started yesterday the process of dispatching goods in 24 hours, in an act that was attended by the business community and President Luis Abinader Corona, who stressed that “this is a momentous day for the Dominican Republic ”.
At the event, held in the Sans Souci port, in the presence of the public and private sectors, the president mentioned at various times that it is a promise of the Dominican Government to achieve zero bureaucracy and efficient government in the institutional processes of the country. Abinader said that the Government began the process in Customs and will continue to achieve an efficient Government.
“We are starting one of the most important pillars of our trade with the rest of the world in an attempt to take a structural leap that will boost our economy and the development of our country,” said the president at the event he arrived three minutes earlier. of the scheduled time and that allowed to start just at 10:00 am.
The “Dispatch in 24 Hours” service consists of the departure of merchandise from the country’s ports in a period not exceeding 24 hours and, as was shown today, the process has been achieved in up to 12 hours, after fulfilling the requirements of the importers.
The project is part of the Government’s goal of turning the country into a Regional Logistics Hub, making it more competitive compared to other countries in the region. For its implementation, it began with a pilot of 40 companies that allowed 100% of these companies to dispatch their goods in less than 24 hours.
Abinader Corona also took the opportunity to ask the ministers and directors of the public sector that intervene in the VUCEX (Foreign Trade Window) to continue advancing with the permits, He argued that this launch of the 24-hour Customs is a joint achievement of the public and private sectors which, in essence, is an achievement of the country.
The president also took advantage of the presence of the presidents of the Senate and the Lower House, Eduardo Estrella and Alfredo Pacheco, so that the new Customs law can come out (be approved) in the coming days, which has more than 68 years of validity.
More than 2,500 companies are already registered
The Director-General of Customs (DGA), Eduardo Sanz Lovatón, highlighted that today there are more than 2,500 companies already registered and those small companies can be classified as AEO (Authorized Economic Operator), with the simplified AEO and the MSMEs., which did not happen before, so that small company can also dispatch in 24 hours.
He expressed that through the “Dispatch in 24 Hours”, it is projected that by 2021 the Dominican logistics chain will save around RD $ 500 million and by 2022 about RD $ 1.3 billion. He said that before starting the project, in January 2021, only 322 companies were dispatching their cargo in 24 hours. Today, 946 companies are dispatching in 24 hours, which shows a growth of 193% in just four months.
Peter Prazmowski, executive director of the National Competitiveness Council (CNC), who also spoke at the event, assured that this project is an example that the country can be more efficient and less bureaucratic and represents a contribution to the spectacular growth that the company is experiencing. Dominican economy post-Covid-19.
Alexander Schad, Chairman of the AmchamDR Trade Facilitation Committee. and Chief Executive Frederic Schad said the country is heading for zero bureaucracy and the economy will save US$44 million.
“From the private sector and especially from the American Chamber and the entire logistics sector that I am honored to represent today fills us with pride that the Dominican Republic is taking certain steps to streamline and foreign trade to continue the path of becoming a logistics Hub of world-class, “said Schad.
RD$68,000 MM
Customs captured RD$68,000 million in the first five months of 2021, exceeding RD$17,000 MM the budget for
Finance, said Sanz Lovatón, highlighting that these revenues will help the President continue to change the country.
Between January and May
Abinader valued that between January and May, Customs revenues already exceed RD$65,000 million, with an increase of 49% compared to the same period in 2020 and of 22.2%, compared to the same date in 2019.
Source:
Listin Diario