Africa-Press – Botswana. Training customs administrators on a master trainer programme on rules of origin is critical to the successful implementation of trade agreements, particularly the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
Botswana Unified Revenue Services (BURS) Commissioner General, Ms Jeanette Makgolo said this in Gaborone Tuesday during the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Master Trainer Programme on rules of origin programme.
She said the training would strengthen capacity of custom officers on rules of origin, which was core to AfCFTA implementation. Ms Makgolo said the training was a significant milestone in collective journeying towards regional integration and economic prosperity.
She said BURS aimed to partake in any activity that contributed to the acceleration of the implementation of AfCFTA, which she said was critical for the attainment of the Africa agenda 2063 and aligned to the global agenda on sustainable development.
Ms Makgolo stated that customs administrations played a critical role not only in the growth of national economies but also in the global economic growth.
“Initiatives such as uniform and transparent application of rules of origin in international global trade reduces bureaucratic bottlenecks at the ports of entry, fostering a business-friendly environment that is conducive for investment and economic growth,” she said.
BURS commissioner general further said Botswana announced commencement of trading under the AfCFTA effective of April 1, 2024, which called for collaborative efforts towards implementation, adding that the WCO and JICA collaboration training was journeying in that regard.
She said enforcing rules of origin effectively could be very challenging, requiring cooperation, transparency and capacity building among member states, adding that the training addressed such.
“It is my expectation that once trained, the customs officials will ensure that only products genuinely originating from member states enjoy tariff preferences, which will foster regional integration, stimulate economic growth and enhance the competitiveness of African industries in the global market,” said Ms Makgolo. WCO deputy manager, Mr Takeshi Ikeda said collaboration between WCO and JICA would achieve significant milestones that would make an impact regionally and in the continent.
He said as regional integration continued to be a driving force for the global supply chain, rules of origin remained a prominent feature in today’s international trade system.
Mr Ikeda further said the programme intended to exchange views and share experiences on regional integration, digitalisation on origin related procedures, free trade agreements utilisation, future development and the roles of trade community and customs on a global level in the field of origin.
JICA Botswana Office representative, Mr Tonokawa Hiroyasu said JICA cooperated with customs administrators of Africa through various aspects such as one stop border posts.
He said JICA appreciated long term cooperation to boost trade and economy in the region and supported the capacity building activities of the WCO and custom administrations in the region.
The two-week master trainer programme on rules of origin was attended by participants from various African countries.
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