RIYADH: Saudi exporters were issued 37,188 certificates of origin in March by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, marking an annual increase of 0.5 percent. The document confirms that the products are of national origin or have acquired that status. It is part of the ministry’s effort to support and facilitate the service for exporters in various sectors. This initiative is part of the Kingdom’s goal under the Vision 2030 economic transformation plan to increase the share of non-oil exports to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product from 16 percent to 50 percent by the decade’s end. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the service targets industrial establishments, the commercial sector, including companies and institutions, and individuals, including farmers, fishermen and individuals, as well as local artisans, and others. The news agency pointed out that the document includes four distinct modes: one for national products intended for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, another for Arab nations, a preferential origin certificate, and a bilingual version for countries that do not grant preferential treatment. It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Industry started issuing these documents following the Cabinet’s decision to transfer over the handing out of these certificates of origin for all national products from the Ministry of Commerce. The initiative is also an electronic service that enables businesses to obtain the certification without the need to visit the ministry to save time and effort. Figures released earlier this year revealed that the Industry and Mineral Resource Ministry issued 118 new industrial licenses in February — a 72 percent annual increase – with the volume of investments amounting to SR1.88 billion ($500 million). The permits were distributed across five sectors, with the food product production domain securing 23 licenses.