Paraguay customs and UNODC/WCA coordinate regional visit and dialogue
The initiative organised by the Container Control Programme (CCP) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the World Customs Organisation (WCO) was held at the Customs offices and port locations in Paraguay from 27-30 March, with the support of the British Embassy in Paraguay.
Delegations during their visit to one of the ports in Paraguay
During the week, Paraguay received delegations of officials from the Presidency and the National Customs Directorate of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, and from the General Customs Directorate of the Federal Administration of Public Revenues of the Argentine Republic.
The purpose of the visit was to hold a discussion and field survey on the Paraguay-Parana Waterway, its challenges for the countries of the region, the protection and stimulation of legal trade, and the projections on measures to discourage illicit trade. The Paraguay-Parana Waterway accounts for approximately 90% of Paraguay’s container cargo to and from overseas, making container control and customs-to-customs exchange in the region crucial to protect trade and respond to illicit activity.
Field visits
As part of the programme, the delegations visited the National Administration Nagivations and Ports (ANNP), Puerto Seguro Fluvial and Terport terminals, and the Paraguayan Customs Scanning Centre in the area, all located in Villeta, approximately 45 kilometres from the capital city Asuncion. The delegations met logistics operators and local public authorities, and were able to witness first hand the realities, forecasts and tasks of the sector.
The delegation also made a tour of ports Caacupemi, Puertos y Estibajes by Fenix, and San Jose by Empedril in the Central area, under of influence of the capital, for a geographical and contextual recognition of their locations.
Regional dialogue event
The Paraguay Customs Directorate hosted a regional dialogue event. In attendance were the National Director of Customs in Paraguay Julio Fernandez Frutos; the Deputy National Director of Customs in Paraguay Roberto Quiñonez; the Coordinator of Customs Research and Focal Point of the Programme in Paraguay Nelson Baez Silva; and the Coordinator of the Container Control Programme for Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, Nicolas Benza, as well as delegations from neighbouring countries.
As part of the conclusions of the event, those present encouraged the implementation of periodic activities in the Southern Cone, to bring positions closer and make possible common strategies and operations to safeguard international trade and the fulfilment of the expectations of all parties, both public and private.
In the words of Paraguay’s Director of Customs, Julio Fernandez:
Stimulating secure and agile trade must be the premise of public and private, national and international actors.