The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched its electronic certificate of origin, a digital system developed to enhance trade facilitation and check fraudulent practices across the region.
While speaking at the official unveiling in Lagos, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Massandje Toure-Litse, extolled the initiative as a transformative milestone in the region’s quest for seamless cross-border trade.
Toure-Litse welcomed dignitaries on behalf of ECOWAS President, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, and highlighted the significance of the new system in tackling longstanding challenges tied to trade liberalization.
Represented by the Director of Customs Union and Taxation, Salifou Tiemtore, she said: “This important ceremony is expected to have a significant and positive impact on the cross-border movement of goods in the ECOWAS region.
“These countries have weak industrial capacity and depend highly on border taxes for economic development. The erosion of customs revenues and non-compliance with origin requirements further exacerbate their precarious economic situations.
“Unfortunately, as we have experienced over the years, the manual process relating to the application, delivery, and approval of certificates of origin has become cumbersome and very often subject to fraud.
“This has eroded confidence in the proof of origin, with falsified paper certificates being used to secure tariff preferences, thereby denying parties the benefits of trade liberalization.”
The commissioner noted that the e-CO initiative stems from more than ten years of efforts to integrate information and communication technology into border procedures in West Africa and ECOWAS has made significant strides in digitizing trade instruments.
She said: “In addition to automating the Community transit procedure through the Automated System for the Management of Transit Goods, ECOWAS has reformed the procedures under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme and embarked on the ambitious project of dematerializing the certificate of origin.
She stated further that ECOWAS has been developing a regional e-CO Hub to digitize the certificate of origin system since 2019.
She explained that this platform links Customs administrations of exporting and importing countries, ensuring secure communication and efficient trade facilitation, embodying the slogan, “Borders divide, Customs connects.”
She said: “The newly launched system eliminates manual signatures, reduces fraud, enhances transparency, and streamlines cross-border movement of goods.”
“The certificates will be transmitted through a secure and dedicated system, ensuring seamless and efficient trade facilitation.
“Customs administrations will spend less time verifying authenticity, and the streamlined process will encourage increased trade within the ECOWAS region.
“We must collectively embrace this initiative to realize the full potential of trade liberalization in our region.
“The launch of the ECOWAS e-certificate of origin marks a pivotal step in fostering economic integration, improving trade efficiency, and curbing revenue losses due to fraud, setting a precedent for digital trade facilitation across Africa,”
