Malawi to pilot e-certificates,electronic single window
Malawi is expected to pilot the national electronic single window and electronic certificate of origin by the end of this year to boost the country’s trade facilitation.
Ministry of Trade and Industry Principal Secretary Christina Zakeyu said this on Tuesday at a media workshop to raise awareness of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa)/European Development Fund (EDF) Trade Facilitation Programmes at Mchinji-Mwami One-Stop Border Post.
The project is scheduled to become operational by November this year as part of the EDF’s broader project to improve trade facilitation in the Comesa bloc.
Said Zakeyu: “The electronic certificate of origin will improve efficiency. First, it will improve access because traders will not have to travel to Malawi Revenue Authority [MRA] offices to have the form processed.
“It will also help us reduce fraud and improve our record management because electronic files are easier to store.”
The electronic certificate of origin is also expected to reduce operational inefficiencies caused by bureaucracies. It is a vital component of the Comesa digital Free Trade Area Action Plan, which includes e-trade, e-logistics, and e-legislation. The development and implementation of the Comesa electronic certificate of origin fall the under e-logistics component aimed at facilitating intra-regional trade.
Zakeyu further said the electronic certificate of origin is an important aspect of the National Electronic Single Window designed to promote trade between Comesa members.
She said the window will reduce the time one takes to file documents, certificates and licences when importing or exporting.
Mchinji One-Stop Border Post station manager Tapiwa Mzunga commended the investments in information and communications technology and infrastructure at the border, saying they have prepared Malawi and local authorities to implement effectively under the Comesa- EDF Trade Facilitation Programmes.
She said: “Facilities such as the smart gate have improved how we work. The processes are faster and we have managed to reduce the time vehicles spend here.”
The facilities at the border have helped reduce the cost of doing business with transporters, saving about K1.2 million in demurrage costs, which were transferred to the transporters.
The Trade Facilitation Programmes is a 3.5 million euro (about K7 billion) European Union-supported programme that focuses on deepening regional integration, improving inclusive regional economic growth and enhancing competitiveness of the 21 Comesa member States.
