IMACASA is one of the companies certified as a Reliable Operator, one of the customs programs developed by the Salvadoran government in conjunction with the U.S. agency.
El Salvador is making progress in trade facilitation with important partners such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has provided resources so that Salvadoran companies have the necessary tools to reach new markets.
“Our strategy is to try to develop the economy here through trade facilitation and the export of products from El Salvador to other markets such as the United States,” said Matthew Hutcherson, director of USAID’s Office of Economic Growth and Education in El Salvador, in an interview with this media.
As part of this vision, together with the Directorate General of Customs (DGA), the Ministry of Economy (Minec) and the Salvadoran Exporters Corporation (Coexport) implement the Reliable Operator Program, which provides specialized training to exporting companies in compliance with international standards and regulations in the movement of products through customs.
Upon completion of the training, which takes about two years, the companies obtain benefits such as priority attention to customs procedures and operations; reduction of immediate and subsequent verifications, as well as the dispatch of imports and exports from the operator’s facilities, which facilitates the time in the reception and shipment of goods.
Currently, 14 companies have graduated from the program and have been awarded the badge; of that number, USAID has directly accompanied seven. However, Hutcherson said that in total they have assisted 34 firms in key areas of customs risk management.
“Some of these companies, according to information we have, are receiving more than $1 million each year through time and cost savings when crossing borders by having these certifications,” he said.
IMACASA, a Salvadoran company that manufactures and exports work tools, is one of the beneficiaries of the certification and accompaniment of the U.S. agency.
This company ships to more than 50 countries around the world, including the United States, where it delivers products to giants such as Walmart and Home Depot. Carlos Carranza, the company’s Logistics and Distribution advisor, said that the certification strengthens its export brand and favors the approach to new international clients, since corporations are very demanding in terms of security requirements for their suppliers.
“U.S. customers, such as Home Depot and Walmart, carry out audits that not only require us to ensure cargo safety, but also the control of personnel and our business partners […] Being a Reliable Operator helps us in the audits we have on safety and personnel, since the training we have received is to comply with the specifications they require,” he added.
In addition, Carranza recounted a situation in which he needed to expedite the movement of a cargo and had the facility to call Customs to resolve it, since the certification assures the government that it is a company that complies “to the letter” with all regulations.
IMACASA lleva productos como almadanas, azadones, barras, bieldos, cortadores de maleza, cuchillos deportivos, cuchillos de cocina, entre otros artículos, a EE. UU. Algunas veces de forma directa a las grandes corporaciones y otras a través de proveedores.
La empresa espera que el distintivo les permita conectar con nuevos socios en el país norteramericano y otras naciones para aumentar sus ventas al extranjero. «Nosotros estamos con muchas expectativas. Esperamos ver los resultados en el corto plazo», añadió.
Source: Diario El Salvador
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