By Favour Akinmola
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched an electronic certificate of origin to facilitate trade in goods among its members and increase intra-regional trade.
The electronic certificate of origin, a process that started in 2019, will be used in the four pilot countries – Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cote Ivories and will be extended to other member countries.
With the innovation, exporters moving goods made in ECOWAS countries can send a digital copy of the document through the customs of origin to the customs of the destination country.
Speaking at the official launch of the e-certificate in Lagos yesterday, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture at ECOWAS, Massandje Toure-Litse, said the use of an e-certificate of origin will eliminate delays and fraud and facilitate trade through the exchange of documents faster connectivity between administrations.
Represented by the Director of Customs Union and Taxation at ECOWAS, Salifou Tiemtore, Toure-Litse said ECOWAS is the first region in Africa to automate its certificate of origin, adding that the move would set an example for other areas of the continent.
She said the proliferation of free trade agreements as a way of creating markets, enhancing cross-border movement of goods and stimulating countries’ productive capacity with its attendant economic benefits also poses significant challenges to developing and least developed countries.
“These countries have weak industrial capacity and are dependent on border taxes for economic development. This has led to the erosion of Customs revenues due to non-compliance with origin requirements and procedures.
“This has further destroyed the already weak industrial landscape of these poor countries and exacerbates the already precarious economic situation in which they find themselves,” she explained.
The ECOWAS official said parties to a free trade agreement must ensure that goods eligible for tariff preferences or differentiated treatment meet the origin requirements to enable the parties to reap the full benefits of trade liberalisation within the framework of the agreement.
Also speaking, the Head of the Programme at GIZ, ECOWAS-AfCFTA, Bernard Tayoh, said the launch of the electronic certificate of origin would lead to regional economic integration and benefits to member states, businesses and citizens.
According to him, GIZ collaborated closely with the commission by supporting the strengthening of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLs) by moving from the manual form of ETLs certificate of origin to the electronic certificate.
According to him, GIZ has been part of the project from the conceptualisation, development, testing, and now the launch.
“This will ensure effective implementation by member states of the ETLs through the operation of an ad-hoc monitoring mechanism, named the ETLs Task Force. It will facilitate the determination of origin of goods by border agencies, render the ETL more effective, and make it more environmentally friendly for the community,” he explained.
He said the e-certificate would enhance intra-community trade and boost the economic competitiveness of ECOWAS member states. He pledged GIZ’s continued partnership with the ECOWAS Commission and its member states towards regional economic integration through the implementation of the AfCFTA.
