Southern Africa must leverage digital solutions to seize the potential of cross-border trade.According to J-L Koekemoer, general manager of Ship-Shape Software, initiatives to improve the implementation of digital solutions at border posts are under way across the region. The situation, however, differs from border post to border post, often leading to cargo being delayed.Koekemoer told Freight News a lot could be achieved by rolling out harmonised e-solutions consistently across the region. Using the SADC certificate of origin as an example, he explained how this document had been processed manually since the start of the implementation of the SADC Free Trade Area.“The process and procedures around this document were always aimed at facilitating intra-regional trade and it was aimed at giving exporters a great competitive advantage as there is little or no import duty charged on cargo accompanied with an SADC certificate. The process, however, has brought a huge amount of operational disruption to carriers and to exporters themselves.”He said technology should be used to circumvent these challenges. “An e-certificate of origin, for example, will go a long way to overcoming many of the challenges in the management of the certificate of origin, including the delays.”Instead of having to apply at an office in the country of origin, the document can be applied for, processed and issued electronically by an issuing authority in the country of exportation and then transmitted to the country of import through the appropriate protocol. Koekemoer said not only did these electronic processes reduce the time taken to process applications, but they also introduced improved security features.He said around the world digitisation of trade processes was increasing. The World Customs Organization (WTO) has actively been campaigning for electronic certificates of origin (e-CO) – and even more so following the outbreak of the coronavirus as the dematerialisation of certificates of origin makes it possible to limit the physical interaction between the exporter and the issuing authority, and between the importer and customs.According to Koekemoer, there is a clear understanding in southern Africa about the benefits digital solutions bring, but legal frameworks do tend to lag and hold up implementation. “The technology is there for e-Co but all the countries in the region need to revise and modify legal frameworks to allow for this, and it’s more often than not where the hold-up is.”One also had to remember, said Koekemoer, that the speed of these projects to transform systems and process across borders was often dependent on the slowest country.But, he said, even though the change was not always as fast as traders wanted, the move towards digital was happening. “There is a very real understanding by governments that to remain economically competitive they need to ensure they are embracing technology and the solutions it brings.”An e-certificate of origin will go a long way to overcoming many of the challenges in the management of the certificate of origin, including the delays.– J-L Koekemoer
