Abu Dhabi Chamber and Dubai Chamber Sign an Agreement to Approve Certificates of Origin

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, considering it as being the National Coordination Body for certificates of origin in the UAE, an agreement to approve the certificates of origin issued by the Abu Dhabi Chamber and allowing them to bear the World Chambers Federation (WCF) international label and to be delivered in accordance with the rules and standards laid down in the WCF International Certificates of Origin Protocol.

His Excellency Helal Mohammed Al-Hameli, Deputy Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, signed the agreement of behalf of the Abu Dhabi Chamber; whereas Atiq Jumaa Nasib, Senior Vice President of Commercial Services in the Dubai Chamber, signed the agreement on behalf of his organization. His Excellency Al-Hameli said that signing this agreement comes within the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Chamber to issue certificates of origin electronically and to give them an international character in order to be accepted internationally and acknowledged by all the chambers of commerce represented by the International Chamber of Commerce.

Al-Hameli added that issuing electronic certificates of origin which are approved internationally also comes within its awareness to provide the best services for investors, businessmen, companies and individuals in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. “It also comes to execute the strategy of the Abu Dhabi Chamber in providing innovative services on the highest levels,” he said, adding that the internationally approved electronic certificates of origin is a leap forward and will be a model for advanced services that the Chamber will provide in the near future.

The Deputy Director General noted that the services which the Chamber provides for its members are represented in finalizing the procedures of commercial licenses electronically, answering the enquiries of its members, organizing seminars and workshops, updating their profiles and adding commercial activities as well as following up expired memberships and informing their owners with the expiration dates, periodical updating for the Chamber’s database concerning its members and business owners, providing data and information and specialized economic publications, issuing certificates of origins, certifying signatures, providing lists of registered companies according to their activities and modifying addresses and any other information related to the registered members.

For his part, Atiq Jumaa Nasib, Senior Vice President of Commercial Services in the Dubai Chamber, said that the agreement reflects the active cooperation and partnership between the Abu Dhabi Chamber and Dubai Chamber, pointing out that adopting international standards in issuing certificates of origin enhances the position of the business community in the country and its international fame in this regard. He called on local and Gulf chambers of commerce to adopt these standards which would facilitate and encourage cooperation and improve their relationships with their counterparts in the World Chambers Federation. Nasib remarked that the Dubai Chamber plays a key role in expanding the international network of certificates of origin through adhering to the standards of issuing certificates of origin and providing recommendations for the ICO Council for approval.

Nasib praised the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, considering that the agreement paves the way for the certificates of origins which are issued by the Abu Dhabi Chamber to be approved internationally which would support the competitiveness of Abu Dhabi merchants and their exports to the world markets.