The East African Business Council commenced a three-day workshop on the African Continental Free Trade Area Rules of Origin with the support of the World Customs Organization, funded by the European Union.
The workshop convened together National Associations, Chambers of Commerce from the Region, and delegates from the European Union and EAC Secretariat.
Board Member of the East African Business Council, Mr. Paul Makanza, in his opening remarks on behalf of the East African Business Council, extended his appreciations to the European Union and World Customs Organization for playing a pivotal role in implementing training on the Rules of Origin in the Region. He said that partnership in this endeavor is of vital importance for capacity building and knowledge sharing in fostering a vibrant, inclusive trade environment. AfCFTA represents a milestone in the quest for economic integration on our continent by creating a single market of 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP of USD3.4 trillion. AfCFTA has the potential to unlock opportunities for businesses across the continent. However, to fully realize the advantages of AfCFTA, it is crucial to understand a number of aspects related to the agreement, and the most fundamental aspect is the Rules of Origin. It plays a crucial role in ensuring fair competition, preventing trade deflection, and safeguarding products originating from the Region. A comprehensive understanding of this training will help the region navigate through the complexities of trading and harness the potential of the AfCFTA.
Head of cooperation to EU, Mr. Cedric Merel said that Rules of Origin are a powerful trade policy instrument, as they contribute to ensuring that trade agreements are correctly implemented. These Rules are essential to determining the customs duties and taxes to be applied to goods, as they provide significant criteria used to determine the economic nationality of the goods. Criteria for Rules of Origin in the context of AfCFTA cannot be underestimated, as they are used to determine which goods are produced and manufactured in Africa. The EU, together with European member states, strongly confirms its commitment to step up support for African Countries on economic integration and trade matters in line with African Union