Single Digital Platform for the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI)

The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) plays a significant role in facilitating trade for the country’s socio-economic development. Currently, many of its trade facilitation processes are manual, requiring physical visits by traders to MCCCI offices. These processes include applications for certificates of origin (CoO), membership management, client relationship management, lobbying and advocacy, and marketplace operations. For instance, it takes an average of 30 hours for a CoO to be issued from the time of application, with indirect costs for traders, especially micro and small enterprises, ranging from $29 to $87.

To enhance efficiency, TradeMark Africa (TMA) has collaborated with MCCCI to automate their processes, enabling stakeholders to lodge requests and applications through the system, such as the issuance of CoOs, without requiring a physical visit to MCCCI offices. Automating these trade-related services enhances efficiency, reduces processing time, enables transparency, and improves market linkages for businesses in the country.

The system is expected to achieve a 30%-50% reduction in the processing turnaround time for the issuance of CoOs and reduce the indirect costs associated with the issuance of the certificates by 50% or more (i.e., an average processing time from application to issuance through the system to be between 12-15 hours).

Project ScopeThe project involved the design, development, and implementation of a single digital platform (SDP) for MCCCI. The digital system enables businesses to lodge and manage trade-related applications online, reducing the need for physical interaction and follow-ups for service delivery.

Platfrom Features

• Online application and issuance of trade certificates such as Certificates of Origin

Online application and issuance of trade certificates such as Certificates of Origin

• E-trade services, including trusted trade documentation and traceability

E-trade services, including trusted trade documentation and traceability

• Digital tracking of trade promotion events and advocacy efforts

Digital tracking of trade promotion events and advocacy efforts

• Membership and client relationship management tools

Membership and client relationship management tools

• Provision of e-commerce, trusted trade documentation, and trade traceability opportunities

Provision of e-commerce, trusted trade documentation, and trade traceability opportunities