RAK Chamber Hosts UAE Union of Chambers' Technical Committee Meeting for Certificates of Origin

February 23, 2016 – Ras Al Khaimah, UAE: The technical committee for certificates of origin at the UAE Union of Chambers of Commerce and Industry recently held its 2nd meeting of the year at the RAK Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The meeting addressed cooperation issues among the member chambers with respect to certificates of origin, particularly those relating to commercial and industrial activities.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Ahmed Jami Al Qaizi, Director of the UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Economic Department, and head of the committee, and was attended by Mohammed Ahmed Al-Nuaimi, Assistant Secretary General of the FCCI, Dr. Ahmed Rashid Al Shemaili, Assistant General Manager of RAK Chamber Commercial Services and Business Development Sector, and representatives of the member chambers of commerce. 

The committee examined a proposal raised by RAK Chamber regarding issuing an electronic smart invoice under which all exporters and producers would have to complete a single online invoice format based on a program incorporated at each chamber of commerce in the State.

Several other topics from the Committee’s 2016 agenda were discussed during the meeting with a view to developing mechanisms, leveraging communication, coordination and cooperation among the various departments of the chambers. The attendees recognized procedural obstacles hindering the issuance of certificates of origins at the border ports which, in turn, obstructs the activities of the private sector. The members looked forward to easing and facilitating the movement of trade between the UAE and other countries, especially the GCC states.

The meeting stressed the need for releasing certificates of origins for commercial and industrial activities in compliance with the guidelines of the competent authorities in the Emirate (Ministry of Economy and Departments of Economic Development).

The members also emphasized the importance of holding meetings between those parties involved in the certificate of origin issuing process, as they would allow officers in the business sector to listen to and take note of the remarks made by their representatives, and study proposals and solutions needed to minimize any hindrances to the movement of trade between the UAE and the outside world.