Malawi has become the second country in the region, after Eswatini, to launch the COMESA Electronic Certificate of Origin (eCO).
A representative of the COMESA Secretariat, Charles Chaitezvi, disclosed this during the Malawi National Launch of the eCO in Blantyre on Tuesday.
Certificates of Origin are issued to exporters within the COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA) to confer preferential treatment to goods originating from an FTA member state.
Executive Director for Corporate Services at the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), Douglas Katchomoza, said the digital system will help optimise revenue collection efforts.
The MRA uses the Certificate of Origin to ascertain the tax value of selected products that may benefit from regional trade agreements, which allow for exemptions and reduced tax charges.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Christina Zakeyo, described the new system as an essential tool in international trade.
The European Union funded the project through the 11th European Development Fund.
By Charles Chindongo
