The Burundi Customs administration hosted a national awareness workshop on the Rules of Origin (RoO) under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement from 20 to 22 May 2025 in Bujumbura. 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 Burundi Customs, the Ministry of Trade, and the private sector.
The workshop is part of a joint WCO/JICA initiative aimed at strengthening the implementation of the AfCFTA RoO, in order to promote more harmonized, transparent and competitive intra-African trade. The objective of the initiative is to equip Customs administrations and other relevant agencies with the necessary tools to effectively manage preferential regimes under the AfCFTA, while also enhancing dialogue among stakeholders, including Customs, other government entities, and the private sector.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Révérien BAHATI, Commissioner of Customs and Excise of Burundi, expressed his gratitude to the WCO and JICA for their commitment to organizing the workshop. He emphasized the importance of the AfCFTA in the context of African integration and the need to strengthen the capacities of stakeholders to ensure the effective application of the RoO under the Agreement.
Mr. Toru TOGAWA, Chief Representative of JICA office in Burundi, commended the exemplary cooperation between JICA and the WCO in training Master Trainers and Accredited Expert Trainers, particularly in the area of RoO. He highlighted that such support is essential in enabling African Customs administrations to implement these rules effectively, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of African economies and boosting intra-African trade.
For three days, the 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 served as a platform to share best practices and examine concrete cases relating to origin criteria, verification, certification, and the progressive tariff dismantling. Through case studies and practical exercises, participants gained a deeper understanding of the RoO, supporting their correct application and full ownership by all stakeholders.
The workshop enabled participants to identify specific challenges faced by their respective administrations and to formulate clear needs for the implementation of the AfCFTA RoO. This exchange framework fostered a better ownership of preferential procedures, while also strengthening cooperation among Customs officers, other national institutions, and economic operators. It also contributed to enhanced dialogue between public entities and the private sector, laying the groundwork for a sustainable partnership in the effective implementation of commitments under the AfCFTA.