Fourteen new agents to bolster the Customs area at Vallarta-Nayarit airport
- After touring the airport facilities, General Customs Administrator Ricardo Ahued Bardahuil reiterated his commitment to the regional authorities and business sector.
This Wednesday, the federal government’s General Customs Administrator, Ricardo Ahued Bardahuil, reiterated to the authorities, business sector representatives, and the media the federal government’s commitment to expedite the work of the Custom’s area of the Vallarta-Nayarit International Airport by adding 14 new public servants to cover the lack of personnel for the next holiday season.
The federal official highlighted the initiative of the Puerto Vallarta-Riviera Nayarit regional business groups during a press conference held at the end of a tour of the port facilities, headed by General Administrator Saúl Ernesto Sanabria Gibert.
Also present during the tour were Marc Murphy, general director of the Banderas Bay Association of Hotels and Motels and the Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB); Javier Aranda Pedrero, general director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust (Fidetur); Susana Rodríguez Mejía, tourism director for the Jalisco Coast; Luis Ángel Cantú, director of Adeprotur; Dr. Jorge Villanueva, president of the Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay Businessmen Association (AEBBA); among others, whom the Administrator congratulated for having put the Customs Administration on notice about the issues affecting the local airport.
“The policy of the General Customs Administration is to immediately address any issues that pertain to us effectively and efficiently through the use of technology, tools, and above all, with transparency, honesty, and service.”
“We’re going to pay close attention,” he continued. “I’m here to tell you that today we are partnering with the government, the business sector, and the airport administration so Customs can function as efficiently as possible.”
He then highlighted the recently fulfilled first agreement: the addition of a group of 14 agents who will join those already on post, for a total of 25. Subsequently, there will be a review of the current standards to ensure these posts are permanently filled.
21st Century Customs
Another important topic of discussion during his visit was the Aduana Siglo XXI (21st Century Customs) project, which had already been presented by past administrations. According to Ahued Bardahuil, this is a good time to take it up again.
He added the project is already operating efficiently in Monterrey and Cancun, and that installing the system here would represent a great step forward for the airport and the entire region.
Lastly, the federal official proposed that the business sectors have a direct link with Central Customs so there are no operational issues; he also reiterated to the authorities that the doors and phone lines of the AGA are open to them, while respecting the work of Immigration, Port Authorities, and the Government, as allies all linked by the Customs area.
“We want to change the image of the Customs administration; this is the mandate of the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador: that foreign trade and freight traffic be a source of pride and not shame,” he added. “Mexico has very capable and wonderful people.”
Background
The visit stems from a meeting the federal official held a little over a week ago with the authorities and business groups from Jalisco and Nayarit to discuss issues concerning the functionality of the airport’s Custom’s area. An agreement was signed after that meeting, where the head of the General Customs Administration (AGA) committed to the acquisition of new RNI equipment for baggage inspection, the verification of services via the operations center, and a review of the current equipment, in addition to the increase in staff.
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The Riviera Nayarit Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) and the Bahía de Banderas Hotel and Motel Association (AHMBB) reaffirm their commitment to the strategic promotion of the destination, pursuing opportunities, and consolidating new markets to increase the number of incoming tourists with the support of the Government of the State of Nayarit via the Tourism Promotion Trust (Fiprotur).
