U.S. provides $399,962 grant to improve port security in Cartagena

U.S. provides $399,962 grant to improve port security in Cartagena    The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a $399,962 grant to Sociedad Portuaria Regional de Cartagena S.A., the operator of Colombia’s Port of Cartagena, to improve container security.
   The port operator, in turn, picked Washington-based Sandler & Travis Trade Advisory Services to provide the USTDA-funded technical help. Emphasis will be placed on compliance with U.S. import security programs, such as the Container Security Initiative, Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, advance manifest reporting, and the Maritime Transportation Security Act, USTDA said.
   It’s estimated that more than one-quarter of Colombia’s total container volume is destined to the United States. This trade volume is expected to increase once the U.S.-Andean Free Trade Agreement is concluded, USTDA said.