The Government seeks to reset the Foreign Trade Single Window (VUCEA) initiative after the main tender commissioned by the previous administration to implement the first computer solutions fell.

That project sought to position the port community system (PCS) tool within the Argentine Maritime Single Window (VUMA) framework, one of the chapters of the comprehensive foreign trade facilitation plan.

The imprint now sought for the program’s relaunch -which is supported by 90% with a loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)- is to “federalise” the benefits.

Strictly speaking, let it be the small and medium-sized operators, especially from regional economies, who first capitalise on the advantages of reducing bureaucratisation of procedures.

Challenge

The VUCE continues to challenge the entire public administration because it involves profound changes in more than 90 public and private organisations. It requires an opening of processes and coming together in a virtual platform that, for the user, is simple, friendly and agile.

After the failure with Indra and Everis to launch the PCS, the Government now points to a “possible” initiative in the three aspects: the VUCE itself, the “VUCE Puertos” (or VUMA) and the VUCE 4.0, which incorporates software of artificial intelligence, Big Data, Data Mining, and “machine learning” to facilitate trade, all crossed with a federal gaze coordinated by Red Vice.

With a profile diametrically lower than that of the previous management, the unit in charge of the program devoted itself fully to political management with the intervening organisations so that they “open their doors” to the developers and analysts of the program.

Achievements

Seneca, Anmat and the Port of Buenos Aires, as well as many other organisations with interventions in Foreign Trade, already have a work agenda launched with VUCE and, in some cases, have already made their requirements to the executing unit to incorporate hardware, software and specialised personnel.

But perhaps the most disruptive was the reception given by the General Directorate of Customs (DGA), the tremendous gravitational centre of foreign trade, which expressed its interest in the project and has been working with VUCE for months.

In parallel, at least 28 public ports throughout the country are in the process of technological strengthening to fully incorporate themselves into comprehensive digitisation, with a survey of technical and connectivity needs.

Loans from multilateral organisations such as the IDB have the peculiarity that they must be executed and audited in compliance with their goals. Otherwise, they fall. In 2021, a disbursement was achieved that almost doubled everything granted since the creation of the executing unit in 2017.

Background

The VUCE was created in 2016 by decree 1079, and in 2017 the Executing Unit was created, which orbits in a decentralised manner in the Secretariat of Industry, Knowledge Economy and External Commercial Management, which is directed by Ariel Schale, within the Ministry of Development Productive.

As its name defines it, it is a platform that digitally and remotely centralises all the procedures foreign trade operators must carry out to import or export. And its primary beneficiaries are not only the shippers but, above all, the customs brokers who are the virtual “foreign trade and logistics departments” of many SMEs.

After a series of pilot tests, in December 2018, it was officially launched. But then the VUCE was subsumed within the policy of integral “Modernization” of the State that the previous administration faced, with the TAD (remote procedures) as the main protagonists.

How does it benefit the Government to have a single window for procedures and services?

Suppose your Government enables a single window for procedures and services. In that case, you will be able to notice an improvement in the collection of payments from citizens in an easy, fast and secure way.

Each Government has its strategy to achieve collection and has the necessary resources to achieve objectives. Still, it is a fact that this strategy can work adequately by having a single window for procedures and services.

Digitisation has arrived, and each Government must update itself to not become obsolete. If a Government is constantly updated and uses technology tools to its advantage, it will be a Government present in the minds of its citizens.

By having a single window for procedures and services, a government can offer more payment options for its citizens, adding payment with credit or debit cards or through different convenience stores.

By having more payment options, bureaucracy and long lines disappear, thus providing a better service to citizens.

In addition, with the single window for procedures and services, you can make budget information transparent and render accounts in a simple way.

Usually, a government obtains resources through the government budget, which is generally capped, in addition to the fact that there is no control over it. On the other hand, the income of resources through payments for procedures and services can increase by having an efficient strategy to meet the objectives set.

By using the one-stop shop for procedures and services Government will instantly notice benefits such as:

• Increase in own revenue collection
• Guarantee the continuity of its operation
• Integrate all procedures and services within the same platform
• Modernise your Government and minimise bureaucracy
• Improve the perception of citizens

And in turn, citizens will also obtain benefits such as:

• Manage all procedures and services within the platform
• Streamline the payment of your procedures and services through the Mobile App for citizens
• Online payment 24/7 with bank cards and cash
• Obtaining official government receipts digitally
• Manage appointments with public servants through video calls

Alexis Ramirez