Under the framework of the EU-WCO RoO Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO) held a national training of trainers workshop on rules of origin for Ethiopia Customs Commission (ECC). The workshop was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 18 to 22 November 2024 with the objective to assist Ethiopia in enhancing its knowledge and application of preferential rules of origin and contribute to a seamless implementation of the AfCFTA and other relevant FTAs.

The workshop was conducted as part of the comprehensive technical assistance and partnership with ECC, and builds on the acquis from intermediate and advanced trainings conducted since 2022. The support provided under the EU-funded RoO Africa Programme allows for the deployment of all-inclusive and wide-ranging capacity building activities, to enhance the infrastructure and capacity of ECC on rules of origin.

In his opening remarks, Mr Kassaye Ayele Molla, Tariff Classification and Rules of Origin Directorate Director, thanked the WCO and the EU for their continued support in building capacity on rules of origin and stressed that the workshop would contribute to enhancing the understanding and application of rules of origin and enable ECC to internalize training of both Customs officers and other stakeholders.

The workshop provided participants with an opportunity to refine their knowledge of rules of origin, while also enhancing their skills in designing and delivering effective training sessions. The workshop offered the participants a unique opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of origin-related topics through group and individual presentations, incorporating facilitation and communication skills acquired from WCO experts.
At the conclusion of the workshop, the WCO experts offered constructive feedback to participants, highlighting areas for improvement and praising their success in applying newly acquired skills to develop training materials and deliver a training session.

The EU-WCO HS and RoO Africa Programmes will continue their work with Ethiopia Customs to equip Customs officials and relevant stakeholders with extended knowledge for efficient implementation and application of rules of origin.

For further information please contact EU-WCORoOAfrica.Program@wcoomd.org