World Chambers Federation
Bahrain Chamber of Commerce joins Certificate of Origin Accreditation Chain
The International Chamber of Commerce World Chambers Federation (ICC WCF) has officially welcomed the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce to its globally recognised International Certificate of Origin (CO) Accreditation Chain. Bahrain is the 40th country to join the robust CO network dedicated to advancing the highest standards in trade documentation.
Accreditation positions the Bahrain Chamber’s Certificates of Origin as a globally recognised provider of trusted trade documents, fully compliant with international best practices.
Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Officer Atef Al Khaja, said accreditation will greatly benefit Bahrain Chamber members by facilitating customs clearance processes while enabling exporters to fully leverage trade agreements, providing them with a competitive edge in the global marketplace.
“With this accreditation, we are taking a significant step towards enhancing the business landscape in Bahrain,” he said. “Our Certificates of Origin are now recognised worldwide, which safeguards against fraud, reduces trade risks, and reinforces the Bahrain Chamber’s reputation as a reliable partner in global trade.”
Reiterating Bahrain Chamber of Commerce’s commitment to supporting its members by continuously improving and innovating its services, Mr Al Khaja added:
“We are dedicated to facilitating our members’ business endeavors through high-quality, innovative, and up-to-date services. This achievement is just one of many steps we are taking to enhance the overall business environment in Bahrain”
A milestone strengthening the global trade certification network
Certificate of Origin Accreditation Chain membership grants the Bahrain Chamber access to the internationally recognised ICC CO label and the ability to directly link its certificates to the official ICC Certificate of Origin verification platform. Established by ICC WCF in 2012, the Accreditation Chain now unites 821 chambers across 40 countries, collectively issuing over nine million certificates of origin each year under the trusted ICC WCF Label. Chamber members adhere to the universal and stringent certification requirements outlined in the ICC WCF International CO Guidelines, ensuring credibility and consistency in trade documents for the global business community.
Julie Sonladuangchanh, ICC World Chambers Federation Lead for Origin Certification said:
“The addition of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce to the CO Accreditation Chain further strengthens our mission to uphold excellence in trade certification and support the evolving needs of the global trading community.”
The Bahrain Chamber was officially admitted during the ICC WCF International CO Council meeting, held from 31 August to 1 September in Melbourne, Australia, ahead of the 14th World Chambers Congress. The Council, chaired by Martin Van der Weide, Policy Executive on Origin at the Netherlands Chamber of Commerce, gathered 40 CO experts from 27 countries.
In addition to welcoming the Bahrain Chamber as a new member of the CO accreditation chain, the CO Council meeting featured updates and discussions on key projects including ICC Genesis – a quality control tool for exporter self-declaration, particularly relevant in light of new US reciprocal tariff plans and ongoing preferential treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Enhancing expertise
The Council stressed the importance of its initiatives, not only to strengthen ICC’s leadership in the origin field but also to raise the profile of individual chambers, equipping them to better support their respective business communities. For the first time, a workshop session on non-preferential rules of origin, led by origin specialist Frank Bertens, was held for council members, reflecting a commitment to ongoing development and expertise sharing.
The CO Council meeting concluded with a heartfelt farewell to Chair Martin Van der Weide, who will complete his second mandate as Chair of the CO Council at the end of the year. Mr Van der Weide has played a pivotal role in the evolution of ICC CO Council, with notable achievements in trade facilitation and the introduction of innovative origin products like ICC Genesis. Colleagues expressed their gratitude for his leadership and wished him continued success in his future endeavours.
Reflecting on his tenure, Martin Van der Weide said:
“Serving as Chair of the Certificate of Origin Council over the past six years has been an extraordinary responsibility and privilege. During this period, the significance of origin in cross-border trade has grown substantially – not only in the context of non-preferential origin, but also preferential rules, where I strongly believe chambers must play an even greater role in supporting businesses to certify origin for Free Trade Agreements. This is central to the chamber’s mission: to facilitate and empower trade. I am confident that the ICC CO Council’s importance will only increase in the years ahead. While I will continue to support the new Chair and the secretariat, I trust the chamber network will accomplish much more together in advancing the field of origin.”
