The World Customs Organization (WCO) on 12 September 2024, informed that under the framework of the European Union (EU) – WCO Rules of Origin (RoO) Africa Programme, the WCO organised a regional advanced training on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) RoO for Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA), in partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the WCO – International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Joint Project.
The training, which also saw the participation of representatives from 16 ESA countries, was held in Mombasa, Kenya, from 02 to 06 September 2024, with the objective of assisting Customs administrations and AfCFTA RoO negotiators in enhancing their knowledge and application of preferential RoO and contribute to a seamless implementation of the AfCFTA and other relevant Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
This training builds on the previous intermediate trainings conducted in 2023 and forms part of a comprehensive technical assistance and capacity-building partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat.
In his opening remarks, Peter Magero, Assistant Manager of the Regional Training Centre (RTC) Kenya, commended the collaborative effort between the AfCFTA Secretariat and the WCO in building capacity, thanks to the technical and financial support of the European Union and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, and stressed the importance of strengthening human resources.
The representative of the AfCFTA Secretariat, Chawki Jaballi, Head of Customs Capacity Building and Training, stressed the significance of the training in light of fast-tracking the implementation of the AfCFTA, promoting the Guided Trade Initiative and fostering the preferential trade ties between the various regions of the continent. He added that the training would provide advanced policy and enforcement insights on the operational backbone of such an agreement.
During the workshop, participants engaged in expert-level discussions on the best practices and challenges pertaining to the AfCFTA RoO implementation, including flexibilities such as cumulation and related operational and procedural issues, such as origin certification for sensitive goods. Case studies shed new light on the concepts and practical implications for traders. These case studies were made possible thanks to the collaboration of domestic exporting companies that specialise in footwear and confectionary goods and are hopeful of making the most of the AfCFTA Agreement soon.
The EU-WCO RoO Africa Programme will continue its work with the AfCFTA Secretariat and Member Customs administrations to equip the State Parties with the extended knowledge for efficient implementation and application of AfCFTA RoO.