The World Customs Organization (WCO), under the framework of the European Union-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme (the Programme), and in partnership with the European Technical Assitance Facility (EU-TAF) support to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the COMESA Business Council (CBC), held an Advanced Training Workshop on AfCFTA Rules of Origin for the French-speaking private sector of Eastern and Southern Africa in Antananarivo, Madagascar, from 24 to 27 March 2025.
Representatives from eight French-speaking Member States of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) – Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Rwanda, Tunisia and Seychelles – benefited from the Workshop, which aimed to equip private sector representatives with in-depth expertise on AfCFTA Rules of Origin. The Workshop was conducted as part of a comprehensive capacity-building journey that began in June 2024.
The support provided under the EU-TAF and the Programme enables the deployment of comprehensive capacity-building activities to enhance the private sector's knowledge of Rules of Origin and contribute to the seamless utilisation and implementation of the AfCFTA and COMESA free trade area.
The Workshop provided participants with an opportunity to deepen their technical knowledge of origin acquisition, certification, verification, and other key AfCFTA requirements. Through interactive sessions, participants applied their learning through practical exercises in real-world scenarios.
The initiative aims to establish a sustainable network of trained professionals who can facilitate knowledge dissemination and support the implementation of the AfCFTA across the COMESA region.
In his opening remarks, CBC CEO Teddy Soobramanien emphasised that the joint collaboration with the Programme and the EU-TAF is designed to create a multiplier effect, ensuring the sustainability and expansion of the regional knowledge pool. He highlighted that some of these experts will soon undergo specialised training as trainers at the WCO headquarters.
Mr Laurent d'Ersu, Political Advisor and Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Madagascar and Comoros, highlighted the special relationship between the EU and Africa, noting that the EU has been instrumental in supporting the implementation of the AfCFTA since its inception.
Mr. Bernardin Ramiandriosa, Director General of FCCIM (Fédération des Chambres de Commerce et d'Industrie de Madagascar), welcomed participants to Madagascar and affirmed his organisation's readiness to support the full participation of the Malagasy private sector in the AfCFTA.
The CBC, in collaboration with the Programme and the EU-TAF, will continue its work with regional stakeholders to equip the private sector with the necessary knowledge for the efficient implementation and application of AfCFTA Rules of Origin.
Want to know more about the Programme?
The WCO-EU Rules of Origin Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, aims to facilitate and increase intra-African trade, trade between Africa and Europe, and trade between Africa and the rest of the world. The Programme is a concrete step taken by the EU and the World Customs Organization in consultation with key stakeholders to support African partners in implementing the AfCFTA.
For more information, consult the WCO-EU Rules of Origin Africa Programme’s webpage.
You can also contact us at: EU-WCORoOAfrica.Program@wcoomd.org