SAFTA License

A SAFTA Certificate is a Certificate of Origin (CoO) issued to Indian exporters trading within the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), including member nations Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This certificate, sometimes referred to as a SAFTA License, proves that goods originated in a member country, which is crucial for claiming tax and tariff benefits under the agreement. This agreement is designed to promote regional economic cooperation and integration among its member states.

The SAFTA Certificate, often referred to as a "SAFTA License," holds significant importance for businesses actively involved in trade within the South Asian region.

Importers and exporters must include the Certificate of Origin (CoO) with the commercial invoice. This practice is essential to prevent potential shipment delays or problems during customs clearance, as the CoO serves as official proof of the goods origin.

These certificates are vital for exporters to substantiate the origin of their goods, clearly demonstrating "where their goods come from." This substantiation enables them to claim any preferential benefits that goods of Indian origin (or "Make in India" products) may be entitled to in the importing SAFTA member country.

The certificate allows the importer in a SAFTA member country to claim reduced or zero customs duties, making your products more affordable and competitive in that market.

Because the importer pays lower customs duties, the total cost of your goods is reduced. This gives you a significant price advantage, making importers more likely to choose you over suppliers from non-SAFTA countries.