ISLAMABAD: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in collaboration with Pakistan Customs Authorities has developed a sophisticated online Certificate of Origin Repository System for the issuance of Certificates of Origin under Electronic Data Exchange (EDE) for exports to China.

According to a statement issued by the authority on Tuesday, “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 on-line verification facility so as to verify each and every Certificate of Origin (COO) issued by 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.—NNI