WCO-Compliant Rules of Origin Training Package Launched

A newly developed World Customs Organisation (WCO)-compliant training package, designed to strengthen and harmonise Rules of Origin expertise across African customs administrations in support of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), was launched today during a workshop held at the Integrated Customs Clearance Centre in Plaine Magnien.

The five-day workshop is jointly organised by the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) and the WCO under the European Union-WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme. Forty-one delegates from 21 countries, including WCO-accredited experts and representatives of regional and international organisations, are participating.

The workshop aims to enhance participants’ technical knowledge, analytical capabilities and practical understanding of Rules of Origin, while facilitating legitimate and predictable trade across the African continent.

Present at the launching ceremony were the MRA Director-General, Mr Rohit Ramnawaz; the Head of Programmes for the Harmonised System and Rules of Origin in Africa, Mr Badr Mouhcine; and the First Counsellor and Head of the Regional Trade Section at the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Moustapha Magumu.

In his address, Mr Ramnawaz highlighted the importance of the Rules of Origin in determining the origin of goods and ensuring that trade preferences and market access are applied appropriately. Effective rules help prevent products from being merely re-exported through another country to benefit from preferential treatment, while also protecting local businesses from unfair competition, he explained.

He stressed that proper enforcement by customs administrations is central in safeguarding legitimate trade and supporting businesses, particularly smaller enterprises, across Mauritius and Africa.

The Director-General also underlined the growing importance of the Rules of Origin in the current international trade environment and the need for customs officers to combine strong technical expertise with sound judgement, analytical skills, technology, data and intelligence.

07 September 2026

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