The Benin Customs administration hosted a national workshop on Rules of Origin (RoO) of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) from 14 to 16 April 2025 in Cotonou. Organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO), with financial support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the WCO/JICA Joint Project, the workshop brought together participants from Benin’s Customs administration, the Ministry of Industry, and the private sector.
The workshop is part of a WCO/JICA joint project aimed at enhancing the implementation of AfCFTA RoO to promote more harmonized, transparent, and competitive intra-African trade. The objective of the project was to equip Customs administrations and other relevant agencies with the necessary tools to effectively manage preferential regimes under the AfCFTA, while also strengthening dialogue among stakeholders, including Customs, other governmental entities, and the private sector.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Aimé Yvan Karegire, Deputy Director General of Benin Customs, expressed his gratitude to the WCO and JICA for their commitment in organizing the workshop. He emphasized that the exchanges would enable participants to gain a better understanding of the RoO within the AfCFTA context and to adopt best practices for their implementation. He also stressed the importance of improving the private sector’s understanding to ensure the effective application of AfCFTA preferential tariffs and thereby accelerate intra-African trade.
Mr. Benjamin More, Deputy Resident Representative of JICA in Benin, praised the exemplary cooperation between JICA and the WCO in training Master Trainers and Accredited Experts, particularly in RoO. He highlighted that this support is crucial for enabling African Customs administrations to implement these rules effectively, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of African economies and boosting intra-African trade.
Over three days, participants attended in-depth technical sessions led by WCO experts to consolidate their knowledge of RoO and their strategic role in facilitating continental trade. The workshop also provided an opportunity to share best practices and to analyze case studies on origin criteria, verification, certification, and the progressive dismantling of tariffs. Through case studies and practical exercises, participants gained a comprehensive understanding of the RoO, thus facilitating their correct application and greater ownership among all stakeholders.
The workshop enabled participants to identify the specific challenges their respective administrations face and to articulate clear needs for the implementation of AfCFTA RoO. This exchange framework fostered better ownership of procedures related to tariff preferences while strengthening cooperation between Customs officials, national institutions, and economic operators. It also enhanced dialogue between public entities and private sector stakeholders, laying the foundations for a sustainable partnership for the effective implementation of the commitments undertaken under the AfCFTA.