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Tribune News Network
Doha
Qatar Chamber for Commerce and Industry (QCCI or QC) has proposed a uniform format approved by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for certificates of origin (COs) issued in the GCC countries.
Certificates of origin are trade documents that testify the goods in a particular shipment have been produced, manufactured or processed in a particular country.
QC submitted the proposal at an ongoing meeting on 'Electronic Certificate of Origin and the ATA Carnet' organised by the World Chambers Federation (WCF), in Athens. The meeting is being organised in cooperation with the Greek Chamber of Commerce.
The proposal, if approved, will improve Qatar's ease of business with the GCC countries and the European countries, said a statement issued by QC on Wednesday.
All GCC countries, especially Qatar, are expected to rework on their certificates to match an internationally recognised format, it added.
QC Director-General Saleh bin Hamad al Sharqi said a joint GCC Committee has been set up to prepare a unified certificate of origin for the GCC countries. Qatar Chamber is a member of this committee.
The Athens meeting, Sharqi said, would discuss an ATA Carnet system that will allow temporary entry of goods, duty-free and tax-free.
He said Qatar is in the final stages of implementing this system.
Sharqi said the system is expected to become operational by the end of 2017, after a review of a joint committee comprising Qatar Chamber and other authorities concerned.
