JAKARTA. Indonesia rolled out an online self-certification scheme on Tuesday that will simplify the procedure for exporters seeking to obtain a certificate of origin for their products.

The scheme will allow businesses to easily benefit from zero percent tariffs under the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). At present, the certificate is provided by the Trade Ministry after verification by the relevant trade authority.

Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan said that the new scheme, starting off as a pilot project, would be in place for 15 exporters who regularly sold their products to Laos and the Philippines. The scheme is the second pilot project of a regional self-certification system the memorandum of understanding for which was signed on Aug. 29 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

 ”The scheme is expected to cut business costs and improve the competitive edge of Indonesian products in the export destinations,” Gita said during the launch.  Under the scheme, the government will grant certified exporters the authority to issue invoice declarations for products to be traded within ASEAN. (The Jakarta Post)

Editor: Asnil Amri