Some of the challenges of the national port sector is the lack of a comprehensive vision of the development of its activities in a sustainable and competitive manner, apart from the loss of competitiveness with high costs and delays, which results in impacts on inflation and the risk that many users migrate to ports in neighboring countries.
This was stated by Alejandro Toledo, president of the Council of International Transport Users of Guatemala (Cutrigua), an entity made up of 9 business chambers that represent 80% of the port cargo in the country.
Given this situation, a proposal was presented consisting of four strategic axes and six immediate actions related to ship waiting times, attention to all users and the necessary infrastructure. These axes are:
- Policy and Governance, which includes the creation of a national authority with technical and financial independence that ensures competitiveness, modernization, investments and efficiency in the port system.
- Investment in infrastructure, equipment and technology, in addition to guaranteeing the legal certainty of investments.
- Sustainable and competitive port development, with a port system that meets international standards.
- Protection and security, implementing the necessary systems and protocols so that the ports are safe and comply with the obligations acquired by the government.
The above implies short, medium and long-term actions, which “make it possible to mitigate the effects of the current critical situation of the National Port System”, and among the priority actions they mention:
- Carry out dredging.
- Increased drafts.
- Specify the interoperability of Temporary Customs Warehouses (DATs).
- Patio expansion
- Guarantee an orderly transition process and ensure the continuity of cargo service at the specialized container terminal in Puerto Quetzal.
- Approval of the initiative identified with number 5545 that contains the proposed Law of the Designated Authority of the National Port System.
Politics and law
Toledo said that to cover the needs in the port system, it is necessary to enact a national port policy, in addition to a comprehensive development law with governance and technical autonomy.
He also insisted on the need for legal certainty for public and private investments, and an infrastructure investment plan that takes into account the growth projection of foreign trade.
The Vice Minister of Transportation of the Ministry of Communications, Jorge Contreras, explained the government’s vision and perspective for the national port system and indicated that they are clear on what should be done because they will be based on the regional transportation master plan. The official mentioned three priority projects:
- Preparation of inventories of port facilities and measurement of capacities.
- Improvements in the Maritime Port Statistical Information System of Central America.
- Short sea shipping initiatives in the region.
He added that 11 strategic corridors have been identified in the region, in four of which Guatemala has direct participation, such as the Pacific Corridor that goes from Tecún Umán (San Marcos) to Panama City; the interior corridor from El Ceibo to Chiriquí (Panama); the Pan American corridor that goes from La Mesilla to El Amatillo (with El Salvador and Honduras); and the Interoceanic corridor from Puerto Santo Tomás to Puerto Acajutla.
Separately, Werner Ovalle, who is the fifth vice minister of the Interior, in charge of the anti-narcotics area, and also chairs the National Port Commission (CPN), said that the plan of said commission for 2024-2028 is based on 3 pillars: Competitiveness, Trade Facilitation and Security, which include expansion of infrastructure, technology, reduction of times, prioritization of international commitments on security issues to maintain and improve the certifications and qualifications that the national port system has.
Coincidences
Toledo explained that from 2000 to 2023, containerized cargo grew 328% and solid bulk cargo 251%, and according to Agexport projections, the organic growth in the volume of exports carried out by the country can increase up to 10% “so “The capacity of the national port system must be in line with the growth of foreign trade.”
Asked about Cutrigua’s proposal, the manager of the Quetzal Port Company, Ricardo Monterroso, and the President of the Santo Tomás de Castilla Port Company, José de la Peña, mentioned that it is positive and that it coincides with the needs and challenges of the port system. from the country.
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