ISLAMABAD: Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), in collaboration with Pakistan Customs, has developed a sophisticated online Certificate of Origin Repository System for the issuance of certificates under Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) for exports to China.
According to a statement issued by the TDAP, “The exporters can now apply for Certificates of Origin online through their WeBOC User ID”.
The new online system, it said, was a major shift towards greater export facilitation and exchange of real-time information between the two countries.
The module would provide a robust online verification facility to verify each and every Certificate of Origin (CoO), issued by the competent authority in country of origin at the time of clearance of goods.
This would enable Customs to timely grant concessions under preferential trade only to the eligible goods and replace the existing model which is not only ineffective and costly but often takes months before a CoO get verified.
The system would enable TDAP to maintain preferential export data of active exporters in a focused manner for taking informed decisions, the statement said.
The TDAP and Customs authorities have held series of awareness seminars across Pakistan with all stakeholders to apprise them of the new and improved procedures for the online certification, which will have direct impact in significantly reducing their cost of doing business in terms of certification under CPFTA.
The new system has been tested and deployed from November 28, 2016 at all stations responsible for issuing Certificates of Origin (CoO).
After the smooth implementation of EDE with China, TDAP would aim for developing a web-based interface with concerned Customs authorities in other importing countries to switch from manually signed and stamped CoOs to electronically issued certificates readily available on web for verification.
