Under the framework of the EU-WCO RoO Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), conducted a Rules of Origin workshop from 8 to 10 September 2025 in Johannesburg, South Africa, for Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC) Freight Forwarders.  This workshop is the first step of a comprehensive and sustainable rules of origin capacity building intervention to ultimately enhance intra-African trade, trade between Africa and Europe, and trade between Africa and the rest of the world.  In attendance were the President of Federation of Clearing & Forwarding Associations of Sovereign Africa, Freight Forwarding officials of national associations from Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, as well as SADC Secretariat and Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat representatives.

This regional capacity building intervention for the SADC Freight Forwarders is timely considering their vital role in international trade supply chain which includes advisory services to importers/ exporters, transportation and warehousing logistics, Customs brokerage, liaison between importers/exporters and Border Agencies, among others.  Regarding implementation of the AfCFTA, Freight forwarders play an indispensable role of advising traders on whether goods qualify for preferential tariff treatment or not, ensuring compliance to administrative requirements such as those that concern consignment criteria and proof of origin, and facilitating the efficient movement of goods.

Considering the sector’s unique training needs in the area of rules of origin, the training was custom-made to enable learners to acquire the knowledge and skills required to determine whether goods qualify for preferential tariff treatment by accurately applying originating products conditions, territorial requirements and proof of origin procedures.   Highly engaging learning sessions were facilitated by use of exercises, case studies, illustrations, plenary discussions, among other learning activities.

The closing ceremony was graced by European Union’s delegation representative for the SADC region, Mr. Catalin Gherman, who reiterated that Freight Forwarders are the implementers of cross-border trade policies and laws as well as key contributors to the regional integration agenda in Africa, and so they are instrumental in enhancing preferential trade in Africa.  He further recognized the tangible opportunities availed by the AfCFTA and also the benefits realized from the Rules of Origin Workshop, including fruitful dialogue between the Secretariats and the Freight Forwarders.  Lastly, he encouraged the learners to take the lessons learnt back to their countries. 

The EU-WCO Origin for Africa Programme celebrates the long standing and mutually beneficial partnership with the GIZ, the SADC Secretariat and the AfCFTA Secretariat, which has created invaluable synergies for capacity building for Customs, Other Government Agencies and the Private Sector in the SADC region.

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