Government Announces Gradual Resumption of Customs Operations at La Guaira

Cargo reception and customs procedures at Venezuela’s Port of La Guaira are beginning to regain their pace after the earthquakes that struck the area in June. Román Maniglia, superintendent of the National Integrated Customs and Tax Administration Service, said the recovery was “progressive, rapid and sustained.”

Authorities are working to speed up procedures for imported goods and improve the movement of cargo. Maniglia said the aim was to support both domestic and international trade as commercial activity returns to the state of La Guaira.

During a meeting with representatives of the La Guaira Chamber of Commerce, officials discussed the recovery of damaged facilities and the difficulties still facing the state after the two earthquakes. “We met with representatives of the La Guaira Chamber of Commerce to discuss the progress of the recovery amid the emergency caused by June’s double earthquake,” Maniglia said.

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Progressive, rapid and sustained.

The port’s recovery is taking place alongside the reopening of Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía. The airport’s temporary facilities were cleared to receive domestic and international flights again after remaining closed for more than two months because of damage caused by the June 24 earthquake. The airport had resumed cargo operations on Aug. 5 as an initial recovery measure and advised passengers to arrive two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights.

The earthquakes, reported as having magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, hit La Guaira particularly hard. Official figures cited in the report put the death toll at at least 6,509. Authorities are seeking to restore port, customs and airport links in one of Venezuela’s main commercial and logistical gateways to the outside world.

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We met with representatives of the La Guaira Chamber of Commerce to discuss the progress of the recovery amid the emergency caused by June’s double earthquake.