Honduras | National Trade Facilitation Plan 2025–2030
Ekber Matute, Senior Associate at ARIAS Honduras and expert in Litigation/Arbitration, presents this article on National Trade Facilitation Plan 2025-2030: A Leap Toward a More Agile Honduran Trade.
On July 31, 2025, Honduras’ Secretariat of Economic Development (SDE) presented the National Trade Facilitation Plan 2025-2030, a comprehensive strategy to modernize the country’s foreign trade. This plan, aligned with global WTO commitments, aims to reduce costs and processing times in cross-border operations and strengthen national competitiveness. In this way, government authorities and the private sector aligned efforts around an ambitious roadmap to digitalize customs procedures and streamline international logistics.
The plan outlines several key institutional actions to simplify Honduras’ international trade. Among the most important are:
Trade facilitation is essential for the economic development of any country. For developing nations like Honduras, the benefits are even greater: higher competitiveness, lower costs, and increased foreign investment typically flow to those offering streamlined procedures.
In short, this National Plan will make exporting and importing more predictable and accessible for companies of all sizes. Exporters, importers, customs brokers, and carriers will all gain efficiency. MSMEs, through the expanded AEO program, will be better positioned to compete in international markets. Altogether, these improvements are expected to attract investment and strengthen regional integration.
The information provided by ARIAS® is presented for informational purposes only. This information is not legal advice and is not intended to create, and does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking advice from professional advisers.
On July 31, 2025, Honduras’ Secretariat of Economic Development (SDE) presented the National Trade Facilitation Plan 2025-2030, a comprehensive strategy to modernize the country’s foreign trade. This plan, aligned with global WTO commitments, aims to reduce costs and processing times in cross-border operations and strengthen national competitiveness. In this way, government authorities and the private sector aligned efforts around an ambitious roadmap to digitalize customs procedures and streamline international logistics.
The plan outlines several key institutional actions to simplify Honduras’ international trade. Among the most important are:
- Coordinated Border Management (CBM): joint customs, migration, and health controls with Guatemala and El Salvador to reduce border crossing times.
- Single Window for Foreign Trade (VUCE): a unified digital portal for licenses, certificates, and permits, eliminating duplication and paperwork.
- Digitalization and electronic signatures: online forms and authorizations with legal validity, expediting customs declarations and reducing errors.
- Advance Declaration: mandatory submission of goods information prior to arrival, enabling faster inspections and smoother processes.
- Expanded Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) program: priority and simplified procedures now extended to MSMEs, allowing them to operate more quickly and securely.
Trade facilitation is essential for the economic development of any country. For developing nations like Honduras, the benefits are even greater: higher competitiveness, lower costs, and increased foreign investment typically flow to those offering streamlined procedures.
In short, this National Plan will make exporting and importing more predictable and accessible for companies of all sizes. Exporters, importers, customs brokers, and carriers will all gain efficiency. MSMEs, through the expanded AEO program, will be better positioned to compete in international markets. Altogether, these improvements are expected to attract investment and strengthen regional integration.
The information provided by ARIAS® is presented for informational purposes only. This information is not legal advice and is not intended to create, and does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking advice from professional advisers.