An initiative to facilitate international trade

Published June 22nd, 2009 - 08:58 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

An initiative to facilitate international trade

Dubai Chamber launches the Arabic version of the International Certificate of Origin Guidelines

Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry launched the Arabic version of the international Certificate of origin guidelines based on the English version published by the ICC World Chambers Federation. The launch of the new Certificate of origin guidelines took place during the participation of Dubai Chamber at the World Chambers Congress held recently in the Malaysian Capital, Kuala Lumpur.

The initiative of Dubai Chamber to translate the English version into Arabic comes as part of the Chamber’s efforts to develop its services, strengthen its status as a facilitator of businesses and encourage all parties to issue Certificates of Origin (COO) based on the best international standards and practices.

The new version of the guidelines enables all authorized issuing bodies of certificates of origin to follow the approved international standards that will facilitate the procedures of customs, provide transparency of transactions and reduce the cases of unclear conditions and requirements associated with applying different methods of issuing certificates of origin.

HE Eng Hamad Buamim, Director General, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and industry pointed out that the new Arabic COO guidelines is regarded as a valuable Dubai Chamber initiative that facilitate international trade. Buamim added:” The publication of the new guidelines is another application of the fruitful cooperation that Dubai Chamber is looking for in its economic and commercial relations with other Arab Chambers. The New Arabic version of the COO guidelines will pave the way for the Arab Chambers to ease and standardize its processes and procedures   to strengthen the economic ties amongst them.”

Buamim stressed that the Chamber looks forward to more initiatives that will enhance trade and create a favorable business environment. His Excellency stated that Dubai Chamber is aiming to achieve its objectives by supporting and protecting the interests of the business community in Dubai.

On his part, HE Rona Yicali, Chairman of ICC World Chambers Federation said:” We greatly appreciate Dubai Chamber’s Initiative and enthusiasm in supporting WCF’s international work in trade facilitation as the chambers play an important and vital role in international trade facilitation and we hope that the Arabic version of the Certificate of Origin guidelines will benefit many of our chambers in the world and add value to the contributions of Dubai Chamber.”

The new version of COO guidelines highlights the conditions and provisions of COO and explains many related topics such as how COO are issued, completion of forms, certification of invoices, changes or problems with certificates of origin, Undertaking and indemnity letters, samples of certificates of origin from around the world, specimen signatures of authorized signatories and other related topics.

With the publication of the Arabic version of the guidelines, the International COO has been translated until now into the Arabic, Chinese and Russian versions with the French and Spanish versions coming soon.