Cochabamba promotes exports with new logistics center

The Foreign Trade Logistics Center was set up with the objective of promoting and facilitating the international trade of Cochabamba companies. Since April the center has been operating with most of the public and private entities installed, cutting the time and money that companies have to invest in customs procedures.

Customs agencies, courier companies, airlines, trade promotion centers, tax collection offices, among others, already occupy a space in the new Logistics Center, located on the former site of the Jorge Wilstermann airport.

In the opinion of the general manager of the Cochabamba Exporters Chamber (Cadexco), Jimena Loayza, the speed of the procedures will have a great impact. "The Logistics Center includes all the organizations involved in foreign trade operations, which used to be spread all over all the city. A procedure that took one or two days can now be done in about an hour," he said.

Exploiting the existing infrastructure, the new Logistics Center has an area of 2,000 square meters. The site has an air cargo terminal, areas for foreign trade operators, meeting rooms, auditorium, training space and two cold storage areas for perishable products.

A second phase will be added in the future. "We're working on the creation of special production zones to diversify products and increase export volume, under special regulations that apply tax neutrality," Loayza said.

The first of its kind in Bolivia, the Logistics Center is the result of the joint work of Cadexco, the organization that manages the center; the departmental prefecture; the concession holder Servicios Aeroportuarios Bolivianos S.A., which donated the site of the old airport; and the Cochabamba Business Federation.