Mozambique Customs, in collaboration with the European Union (EU), is promoting training activities on ‘Rules of Origin and Advance Rulings’, with the aim of providing customs agents and foreign trade operators with knowledge that will help in the process of verifying the authenticity of exported products and increase tax collection in the context of commercial transactions.
According to a publication by the Agência de Informação de Moçambique (AIM), the training began on Monday 29 July and covers professionals located in the cities of Maputo, Beira and Nacala, which are home to the largest ports in Mozambique, responsible for the development of trade.
“The rules of origin are fundamental, as they make it possible to identify precisely where a given commodity is produced. We have several agreements initialled, at the level of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), as well as the European Union, which aim to promote legal trade, giving companies benefits in the export process,’ explained Deputy Director General of Customs Fernando Alage.
He also emphasised that by proving legal trade practices, countries help to eliminate fraud, combat illegal imports and exports and avoid millions in losses for the state
“There are many importers and exporters who present false documents, resulting in a loss of revenue for the state. It is a criminal offence to benefit from a rule for which you are not eligible. We want to encourage voluntary adherence to the rules,’ he said.
Alage pointed out that countries like Eswatini, Namibia and Malawi have already adopted the electronic certificate of origin, facilitating international trade through modern electronic systems.
Recently, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Silvino Moreno, made it known that the digitalisation of services in various sectors of activity has positively helped to facilitate international trade processes.
Speaking after the first ordinary session of the National Trade Facilitation Committee, a body set up by the Council of Ministers that brings together the government and the private sector, he explained that the country is working on implementing measures that are in line with the global trend, focusing above all on changing the issuing of certificates of origin.
