31-3-2016
Qatar Chamber organised a workshop recently to train representatives of companies involved in export and import business on obtaining electronic certificates of origin through the chamber’s website.
Executive Director of Qatar Chamber Saleh Hamad al Sharqi said that the new electronic system to obtain a certificate of origin through the QC website is an easy process and that merchants can log onto the QC website and fill up the required data.
After approval of the request by the QC, a merchant can print the certificate of origin.
Sharqi said the new process will save time and effort as a merchant does not have to visit the QC offices personally and he can take advantage of the electronic link between the Qatar Chamber and the General Authority of Customs.
He added that there are seven models of the electronic certificate of origin and the QC would be holding more training sessions at its headquarters to train workers from companies on the electronic system for all of these models.
He noted that when the electronic link between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members is established, the data of electronic certificates of the origin will be shared among the GCC countries, making it easier to import or export to Qatari companies.
“The QC is discussing with Ministries of Economy and Commerce, and Ministry of Foreign Affair the possibility to have representatives from the two ministries to work on the ratification of certificates of origin as some countries do not accept electronic certificate of origin,” Sharqi added.
“The QC wants to offer traders a single window for all transactions relating to export and import without the need to check other destinations,” Sharqi said.
The new system is a result of the coordination between the General Administration of Customs (GAC) and the QC over the past months to develop the customs clearance process and procedures at all stages to ease obstacles faced by companies during customs clearance operations.
Last week, the GAC and QC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the electronic certificate of origin.
The certificate of origin is a certificate issued by the exporting country indicating place of manufacturing of the goods to be exported and is considered a necessary document to identify the origin of the goods in order to estimate the fees
