The Commerce Ministry officially launched a program yesterday giving the authority to issue certificate of origin licences to four provinces along the Thai border, potentially expediting the export process for agricultural businesses in the region.
The previous system required applicants who wish to apply for a certificate of origin (CO), which is required for legal exports of agricultural products, to come to Phnom Penh to receive their certification from the Ministry of Commerce in the capital.
That process was labourious and often ignored by farmers and exporters, who instead used brokers to ship goods across the border through informal channels.
Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak announced yesterday that provincial commerce departments would have the authority to issue COs in four provinces – Pailin, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey. A pilot program of the same type was launched in Pailin and Battambang in December.