Given the new Import System of the Argentine Republic -SIRA-, in force since mid-October 2022, the Undersecretary of Trade Policy and Management, Germán Cervantes, dependent on the Ministry of Economy, showed the results of four months of system management to more than 100 SME entrepreneurs from ENAC (National Entrepreneurs for Argentine Development).
The official highlighted that import authorizations grew 11% year-on-year in amount and 2% year-on-year in number of orders from the entry into force of the SIRA system.
From last October to the end of last February, the amount of external purchases approved was 11% higher than that registered in the same period of the previous year. Authorizations for more than 27,000 million dollars were granted, according to a study by the Undersecretary of Trade Policy and Management of the Ministry of Economy.
For his part, the president of ENAC, Leo Bilanski, recognized that "since the beginning of the management of the SIRA system, our institution was summoned together with other business chambers to work on solving the problems that SMEs have regarding imports" and he added that from this, ENAC's members saw their inconveniences regarding import authorizations significantly alleviated. In this context, "cases of small companies from all over the country have been resolved, which did not have adequate advice on the matter before coming to ENAC".
The economic authorities explained that at the beginning of the entry into force of the SIRAs, they prioritized large exporting companies to strengthen the trade balance, so that from there, they could have the resources to balance the level of approvals for small and medium businesses.
As a novelty, Undersecretary Germán Cervantes reported that the AFIP APP is already underway. There, each company will be able to monitor the status of their SIRAs in real time. In addition, he announced that the Ministry of Economy will launch an online web platform to expedite the submission of import orders for SMEs.
The concepts expressed in the meeting between government officials and SME representatives were of fundamental importance for the footwear and manufactured goods sector, since this particular industry is directly dependent on imported supplies and materials, essential to sustain their productions.
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