This is how the process of modernization of Ecuapasso, Carina is going

After 17 months without news, the Ecuapass system of the National Customs Service of Ecuador (Senae) has apparently experienced difficulties again, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) in a statement addressed to the banana export sector that uses this system to remove the fruit of the country The alleged problems appeared 6 August, and MAG issued a statement the following day.

Ecuapass, which has been in operation for twelve years, is the Ecuadorian customs system that enables foreign trade entities to perform all import and export customs operations. Regarding the alleged inconveniences cited by the Ministry of Agriculture, Customs responded that its Ecuapass system had no interruptions or problems.

Ecuapass system rehabilitated, after serious interruptions

“During the specified date, no incidents affecting the development of activities of banana exporters were reported. A 24/7 Ecuapass monitoring system has been implemented, which enables immediate attention to any incident. The last quarter reports normal operation of the system as a result”. Senae assured this newspaper.

Regarding the versions of MAG and Senaa on whether there are interruptions in Ecuapass and the impacts on banana exports, Richard Salazar, executive director of the Ecuadorian Banana Marketing and Export Association (Acorbanec), confirmed the interruptions in the system: the problems mentioned by MAG are took place and were presented on August 6. Exports were stopped for several hours, and cars and containers were outside the stopped ports, they could not enter.

He also assured that “there are always interruptions in the system, but they are being resolved”.

What about Ecuapass?

It is not the first time that the customs platform presents problems. In February and March 2022, it experienced two falls. The first was due to “problems with the technological infrastructure” that suspended several Senaa functions on February 16 and 17, and even affected the entity’s e-mail. The second incident was attributed to a “serious outage” that caused services to be disrupted on March 17 and part of March 18.

That year, after the first novelties in the platform, the then general director of Senaa, Carola Ríos, recognized that the system, which recorded an average of 3,200 daily transactions, had to be modernized and that in the first phase they made a payment of 1,500,000 dollars to improve the system, and in the second phase an additional $2 million is planned to stabilize the platform and start the system modernization process. software which was designed between September and October of that year.

Then, in June 2022, the official revealed that there was an investment project through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with which at the end of the year it was requested that funds be approved in the state budget for 2023 to start public procurement for modernization software Ecuapassa, that it will take about 18 months and that a budget of between 15 and 18 million dollars is needed.

With 19 days in office, the director of Senaa, Ralph Suástegui, confirmed that in six months the modernization of Ecuapasso can be granted and in three that the scanners in the ports will be working

A year later, in June 2023, the new director of Senaa, Ralph Suástegui – with 19 days in office – indicated that the modernization of Ecuapasso could be awarded by the end of this year. “In six months we can (award the modernization of Ecuapasso), in six months we can also solve the customs procedures, we can make the historical debts we have”, alluding to the short period he had after the crucifixion of the President of the Republic, Guillermo Lasso, on the 17th. May.

A budget of $24 million for Ecuapass alone

Two months after what Suástegui said, Senae confirmed that the budget approved for its modernization is 24 million dollars, which will allow the tender to be carried out together with the IDB. Carina assured that its Continuous Improvement Department and Information Technology Departments are raising improvement processes so that the system functions with all security and stability in its work.

Senaa explained that the $24 million allocated to Ecuapass is part of a total of $30 million that includes a project promoted with the IDB, and that the process of improving the platform is carried out through different tenders and phases. “There are several tenders being made, as it is being completed in stages,” Senae’s Communications Department explained.

At what stage is the modernization of Ecuapasso at the moment? Carina revealed that it is under reconstruction. “It allows us to move from version 2.0 to version 4.0 to keep up with the current demands of the store.” Tenders are joint between IDB, through supervision, and Senaa.

Clarification with code F

Senae also clarified the powers of Ecuapass in the banana export business, after this newspaper consulted them on the confirmation of the Minister of Agriculture, Eduardo Izaguirre, on the existence of the code F or FAS modality of sale (free on the price of the vessel ) that the Ecuapass system allegedly has, through form 150, which would not be part of the banana control system (Unibanano).

As Musáceas undersecretary Nikcola Mora – who is no longer in office and has been replaced by José Cansing – explained last July, the “abuse” of the tool was discovered by entering the letter F before the code that MAG assigns to farms, companies were able to export boxes of bananas without passing through Unibanano. Mora even assured that MAG and Senaa technicians are in meetings to solve the problem of that code. Also, the export sector defended this tool stating that it is legal and included in the Banana Law.

How was the code used, allegedly, to export boxes of bananas without going through the banana control system? Musáceas’ undersecretary and minister Eduardo Izaguirre explains this

Now Senae replied: “The powers of each entity are established. Code F does not belong to the Ecuapass system, it is a MAG control implemented in its Unibanano system”.

Customs explained that its competence is to receive in digital form the documentation that is received at the Ecuadorian Single Counter (VUE); This goes into the MAG Unibanano system which establishes controls and allocations that are the responsibility and accountability of that ministry. Then, based on this, Unibanano sends the results of the controls, and Ecuapass displays them to the user. “The competence and responsibility of Senaa consists in the verification of the validity of the documentation,” the institution insisted.

On August 21, Senae released a statement affirming its “unwavering commitment to rigorous adherence to the guidelines issued by MAG, for the advancement and regulation of the country’s banana sector.” “The primary function of Senaa is to ensure that customs controls are carried out transparently in accordance with the information provided by the Banana Unit, Unibanano, of the Ministry of Agriculture; in order to preserve the integrity of the banana value chain…”.

Questions and answers Elections 2023