BY MBONGENI NDLELA
EZULWINI – Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Trade Manqoba Khumalo says the newly launched Electronic Certificate of Origin (eCO) is meant to support Eswatini businesses in becoming more competitive in the international market while also addressing issues of fraud and authenticity verification that can sometimes arise with paper documents.
Speaking at ERS Headquarters during the launching, the minister said the eCO resonated well with the government’s vision for the National Trade Facilitation Roadmap, which is “To transform Eswatini into a one-stop, paperless and climate-smart seamless trade hub with digitalised processes.”
“This innovative tool represents a monumental shift in the way we conduct cross-border trade, aiming to streamline processes, increase efficiency, and enhance transparency. The traditional, paper-based Certificate of Origin has served us well over the years; however, in today’s digital age, the demand for a faster, more secure, and reliable system has grown exponentially. The eCO is designed to meet these demands by providing a digital platform that simplifies the certification process, minimizes paperwork, and reduces the time needed for verification and approval,” he said.
The minister stated that the introduction of the eCO not only emphasizes COMESA’s commitment to regional integration and trade facilitation but also aligns with global trends towards paperless trade systems.
He said the eCO promises substantial benefits for both businesses and customs authorities.
“For businesses, it means reduced processing times and lower costs, enabling them to move goods across borders more swiftly and efficiently. For customs authorities, it offers a more robust system of certification verification, allowing for better control over goods entering and leaving our respective countries,” he said.
He further stated that it is essential that governments, trade bodies, and private sector entities — work collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition to this new system.
“Capacity building and awareness initiatives will be critical in assisting businesses to adapt to and fully benefit from this digital platform,” he said.
Meanwhile, Acting Commissioner General, Leonard Nxumalo said ERS is grateful to both the EU for their financial assistance and COMESA for their technical assistance which has enabled the successful implementation of the electronic Certificate of Origin.
Nxumalo said this development will bring significant benefits to trade within the COMESA region.
“I want to congratulate you Your Excellency for the remarkable achievements COMESA has made in the result areas that address increased implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The regional approach strengthens the integration of Customs administrations within the region and thus enhances the strategic positioning of Customs to best deliver on the mandate of facilitating legitimate trade without compromising the effectiveness of controls to detect and curb the misuse of global supply chains to advance the movement of illicit goods across our borders,” Nxumalo said.
