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Honduras and Canada Agree to Modernize Cargo Inspection at Puerto Cortés

By Bufete Mejía & Asociados

Honduras and Canada have signed an international cooperation agreement to modernize cargo inspection procedures at Puerto Cortés, the country's main maritime port and a strategic gateway for international trade.

The agreement was signed by Honduras' Minister of Finance, Emilio Hernández Hércules, representing the Honduran government, and the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), a Canadian government entity specializing in government-to-government contracting.

The project includes the supply, installation, operation and maintenance of a non-intrusive cargo inspection system that will allow authorities to examine shipping containers without physically opening them.

Technology to improve customs inspections

The new system is intended to strengthen cargo monitoring, improve port security and facilitate the movement of legitimate trade while helping protect public revenues.

Non-intrusive inspection technology enables customs authorities to examine container contents through scanning equipment, reducing the need for physical inspections and potentially improving the efficiency of cargo clearance procedures.

Its implementation is expected to modernize inspection practices at Puerto Cortés, where efficient customs operations are essential to the country's import and export activities.

The agreement establishes the main components of the project, although the authorities have not yet disclosed the total investment, the number of inspection units to be installed or the expected operational start date.

Government-to-government cooperation

The participation of the Canadian Commercial Corporation provides a framework for implementing the project through government-to-government cooperation, facilitating the contracting and execution of initiatives involving Canadian companies.

The agreement also reflects broader cooperation between Honduras and Canada in areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, security and economic development.

Puerto Cortés as a regional trade gateway

Puerto Cortés is one of Honduras' most important maritime terminals and a strategic logistics hub on the Caribbean coast. Its operations are central to the country's international trade and connections with regional and global markets.