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Central America set to roll out digital tool to make trade faster and borders smarter
By Guy José Bendaña-Guerrero & Asociados
Central American countries will roll out a regional digital platform to track trade facilitation reforms and deepen economic integration. The platform will help cut border times, reduce trade costs, modernize border management and promote inclusive growth.
The initiative is led by the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA) with support from UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and funding from the European Union.
UNCTAD and SIECA have signed a cooperation agreement to launch the UNCTAD Trade Facilitation Reform Tracker. The tool supports the Central American Strategy for Trade Facilitation and Competitiveness with an Emphasis on Coordinated Border Management 2023, the shared roadmap to make trade faster and more predictable across the region.
The Reform Tracker will become the operational backbone of the 2023 Strategy. Adapted to SIECA priorities, it enables real-time monitoring of measures, task management, inter-institutional coordination and automated reporting. It helps move from policymaking to implementation with greater accuracy, efficiency and transparency. It will also support progress on reduced border crossing times, greater regulatory harmonization and steps toward interoperable digital systems such as the Central American Digital Trade Platform.
Guy José Bendaña-Guerrero & Asociados
GUY JOSE BENDAÑA GUERRERO & ASOCIADOS has a long and prosperous tradition in the field of intellectual property (IP) in Nicaragua, with roots that go back to more than 100 years, resulting on long-term relationships with renowned clients and attorneys worldwide.
The firm has its origins in the law firm Henry Caldera & Henry Caldera-Pallais, founded in 1907 by Mr. Henry Caldera. That same year of 1907, through the efforts of Mr. Caldera, Nicaragua had its first Trademark Law. In the late 1930’s, Mr. Caldera’s oldest son, Dr. Henry Caldera-Pallais, after studying law in Nicaragua, attended the University of Michigan, where he graduated as a Registered U.S. Patent Attorney. Dr. Caldera-Pallais in 1964 was a founding member of the Interamerican Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI), the first regional intellectual property organization in the Americas. The firm continued to grow during the administration of Dr. Franklin Caldera, son of Dr. Caldera-Pallais, who obtained his doctoral degree in law from the Universidad Centroamericana in 1973.
Since 1985 the current partners, Dr. Guy José Bendaña Guerrero and Mrs. Blanca Aragón de Bendaña, took over the management of the firm. Dr. Bendaña Guerrero, Director of the firm, has distinguished himself as one of the most respected authorities in Central America in the field of intellectual property and law in general, being the author of several books such as “Course of Industrial Property Law”, “Study of the new Laws of Industrial Property” and “New Study of Contracts “, among others. Mrs. Aragón de Bendaña has served as the firm’s general manager and, thanks to her excellent management, the firm has been in constant growth, with a highly qualified staff committed to excellence. Since 1996, partner Julián José Bendaña Aragón joined the firm, and has been standing out as one of the most recognized attorneys in the field of intellectual property.
We have adapted to the constant change of the business world, supporting our clients in finding the most appropriate legal solutions for each moment. The firm distinguishes itself by understanding the needs of its clients, offering personalized service and adding value to its activities.
Nowadays we continue to be the leading firm in Nicaragua in the area of intellectual property, and at the same time, we have been consolidating other areas of service within the civil, commercial and labor fields, as well as litigation and consulting in general. The firm is well positioned to guarantee a pragmatic service that meets the requirements of the most demanding clients.