NAIROBI, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) on Thursday launched its electronic certificate of origin system in Kenya, aiming to digitize trade procedures and ease intra-regional trade by cutting costs and delays linked to manual certification.

Christopher Onyango, director of trade and customs at COMESA, told journalists in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, that the new digital system is expected to streamline customs procedures, reduce red tape, and boost intra-regional trade by allowing exporters and customs authorities to process certificates of origin electronically.

"The electronic certificate of origin will replace manual certificates and reduce clearance times at border crossings," Onyango said, adding that goods originating from COMESA member states qualify for preferential tariff treatment.

Josephine Makokha, rules of origin manager at the Kenya Revenue Authority, said Kenya joins Eswatini, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe in rolling out the system. She noted that the platform simplifies the application, issuance, exchange, and verification of certificates.

Makokha added that the online certificates will be transmitted in real time among COMESA member states, enabling customs authorities to reduce the bureaucracy involved in cross-border trade. ■