India Simplifies Export Documentation for West Asia, MENA

• Govt authorises IACCIA to issue origin certificates
• Move to ease export documentation for WANA trade
• Step to aid SMEs, cut delays in peak export cycles

In a move aimed at easing documentation requirements for exporters trading with West Asia and North Africa (WANA), the government has authorised the India & Arab Countries Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (IACCIA) to issue non-preferential certificates of origin, according to a government order.

The decision is intended to improve ease of doing business, particularly for small and medium exporters who often face delays and bottlenecks in securing certificates during peak export cycles. Certificates of origin are mandatory trade documents used by importing countries to verify the origin of goods, even when exporters are not claiming preferential tariff benefits. In the WANA region, such certificates are routinely required by customs authorities for regulatory compliance, anti-dumping checks and trade data validation, making timely issuance critical to avoid shipment delays.

The move comes against the backdrop of India’s expanding trade engagement with Arab countries. India has already signed free trade agreements with the UAE and Oman, and is in discussions to begin negotiations on an FTA with Qatar.

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IACCIA is endorsed by India’s ministries of external affairs and commerce & industry, as well as by the League of Arab States, the Union of Arab Chambers and the Council of Arab Ambassadors in New Delhi. The chamber is involved in facilitating business delegations, buyer–seller meets and trade promotion initiatives, and its inclusion as an authorised issuing agency is expected to provide exporters with a region-focused certification option.

“The decision may help in improving ease of doing business for exporters, particularly small and medium enterprises that often face bottlenecks in securing certificates during peak export cycles,” said Vinod Kumar, President, India SME Forum.

“Authorising an agency to issue certificates of origin will help reduce procedural bottlenecks for exporters, particularly those trading with West Asia and North Africa where such documentation is routinely required,” said Arun Kumar Garodia, Former Chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council.

WANA remains one of India’s largest trading regions. In FY25, India’s merchandise exports to key WANA markets exceeded $64 billion, while total bilateral trade crossed $216 billion, commerce ministry data showed. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade said it has added IACCIA to the official list of agencies authorised to issue certificates of origin with immediate effect.