"The investment that the Government of El Salvador has made since 2019 in infrastructure and technology -in customs- is more than US$40 million", reiterated the official.

The official indicated that in the past, clearance at El Amatillo took days, which caused long lines of vans, but now the processes have been streamlined so that they can move quickly.

A month ago in El Amatillo he has received good feedback from the motorists who use this crossing point, since "now, once they pass through the border crossing point, they no longer stop on the Honduran side, but are in transit to their final destination".

The results have been favorable, so they will be replicated this year at borders bordering Guatemala, such as Anguiatú and La Hachadura, and in both cases Guatemalan officials will be transferred to El Salvador.

Another of the innovations that Customs is experiencing is the implementation of the advance declaration, which began to be executed in 2022, and that, according to Mayorga, by this year will work in all customs of the country with the integration of El Poy, which was the only one that was pending to be integrated to this system.

"This is the work we have for this year as Dirección General de Aduanas, to conclude the advance declaration at all border points, noting that there is only one border where this mechanism has yet to be implemented", said the director.

The government is also developing an advance declaration system for travelers, which is already operating at the airports of El Salvador and Ilopango.

The digitalization of these processes means an economic saving for the State of up to US$1 million per year by not having to print all the documents.

Translated by: A.M