COMESA Secretariat working with the Government of Kenya have on 2nd October 2025 launched the electronic Certificate of Origin (eCO) which is expected to  advance the regional digital integration agenda. The launch marks a steady move towards modernizing trade facilitation by digitizing the registration of exporters and the issuance of electronic Certificates of Origin.

Mr. Timothy Were, Director of ICT at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment who was the Guest of Honor at the event remarked that the launch sends a strong signal to the region and continent that Kenya is ready to drive forward digital transformation, deepen regional integration and foster continental unity. “By embracing innovation, we reaffirm our commitment to making trade more efficient, transparent, and inclusive for all,” he said.

Dr Christopher Onyango, Director of Trade and Customs at COMESA Secretariat, described the event as a significant advancement under the COMESA Digital Free Trade Area (DFTA).

“This launch is a clear demonstration of Kenya’s commitment and leadership in advancing COMESA’s integration agenda. We commend Kenya for embracing this innovation, which promotes efficiency, competitiveness, transparency and trust in regional trade,” he said.

Certificates of Origin are essential for exporters to access preferential trade benefits under regional agreements, including COMESA, the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Previously, the certification process was fully manual, requiring physical applications, printed certificates, and in-person verification. The digital system eliminates these inefficiencies, reducing costs, minimizing fraud risks and improving record accuracy and tracking for exporters.