Next October, Panama will launch the first tests of the Portcel project, a digital platform to simplify port and shipping procedures to exchange information between several institutions, in a fluid and expeditious process, and that will also reduce the number of papers.

A statement from the Panama Customs Authority, the government entity that leads the project, indicated that Portcel seeks to increase the competitiveness of the country, enabling paperless digitized processes, in most cases, to improve cargo controls by the authorities responsible for exercising control in foreign trade operations, by providing the basis for the traceability of cargo, especially that in transit and transshipment operations.

To do this, training and adaptations are already being carried out for the companies that will be connected to this platform, including port terminals, shipping companies, ACP. It was announced that some have to make the adjustments to their systems to use this platform. In October, he will start a pilot plan with two shipping companies to test the system.

Customs indicated that it plans that the Portcel platform will be operational from January 1, 2023, so collaborators of the Customs Authority are already trained in a primary phase in sea cargo and later other phases such as air and land will be discussed.