Under the framework of the EU-WCO RoO Africa Programme, funded by the European Union, the World Customs Organization (WCO) in partnership with the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) held a sub-regional training of trainers workshop on rules of origin for MRA and Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC). The workshop was held in Port Louis, Mauritius from 10 to 14 March 2025 with the objective to assist Customs in enhancing their 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 a comprehensive partnership with both MRA and SRC and builds on the acquis from intermediate and advanced trainings conducted since 2023 for both administrations. The support provided under the RoO Africa Programme allows for the deployment of wide-ranging capacity building activities, to enhance the infrastructure and capacity in relation to rules of origin.

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.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Arunsingh Ramduny, Project Manager, EU Delegation Mauritius, mentioned that the work carried out by the EU-WCO RoO Africa Programme falls under the EU Partnership for Africa which focuses on regional trade integration. He highlighted the efficiency of the Programme and its holistic approach in competency development and technical assistance that has recently contributed to MRA’s launch of the e-tariff tool. He commended the commitment of the MRA top management and indicated that a pool of experts is the result of a comprehensive and sustainable approach to building long term capacity of Customs officials and the private sector.

Mr. Vivekanand Ramburun, Director, Customs at MRA, highlighted that origin is part of the 3 key pillars of Customs, and that the topic has gained importance in the light of growing world trade. He stressed that a good knowledge and understanding of rules of origin will help Customs correctly implement and apply these rules, while also assist in detection and prevention of origin fraud. He encouraged the freshly trained trainers to share their knowledge with others, adding that education is power that contributes to prosperity and growth.

The EU-WCO RoO Africa Programme will continue its work with Mauritius and Seychelles 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