Automating the control of goods in international transit : implementing the TIM in Central America

In 2008, the Integration and Trade Sector (INT) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) designed an innovative project in Central America called International Goods in Transit (or TIM, its Spanish acronym), which has dramatically improved the speed and efficiency of border clearance for goods in transit. The TIM is an electronic system for managing and controlling the movement of goods in transit that harmonizes previously cumbersome procedures into a single electronic document, consolidating information and certifications from various authorities including migration, customs, and health/agriculture. The project is based on three main pillars: (1) process reengineering: TIM harmonizes multiple paper-based declarations into a unique and comprehensive electronic document that gathers all data needed by customs, migration, and phytosanitary agencies; (2) information technology: TIM connects the intranet systems of all agencies participating in the project. It includes state-of-the-art risk analysis and cargo control systems; and (3) cooperation: TIM improves cooperation within the country and between the different agencies operating at border crossings in the Mesoamerican region.