A technical workshop held in Rabat from April 13 to 17, 2026, marked a significant step in Morocco’s ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Organized by the Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration (ADII) through its AfriDou@ne program, the training focused on the rules of origin for the benefit of officials from the Union of the Comoros. This initiative, conducted in partnership with the World Customs Organization and the European Union, serves as a central lever for the operationalization of an integrated African market by strengthening the technical capacities of customs administrations.
The core of the training centered on the complex mechanisms of rules of origin, which are essential for determining the provenance of goods and their eligibility for tariff preferences. Mastering these rules is a critical prerequisite for national administrations to implement preferential trade arrangements effectively and secure commercial flows across the continent. To ensure the long-term impact of the program, the workshop utilized a train-the-trainer format, blending interactive sessions and technical case studies to prepare participants to disseminate this specialized knowledge within their home administrations.
The program was further enriched by practical field visits to the Customs Training Institute in Benslimane and the port of Casablanca, where participants observed Morocco’s modernized customs management frameworks in action. These visits allowed Moroccan authorities to showcase the tools and procedures currently used to streamline trade and modernize administrative oversight. Through this exchange, Morocco continues to solidify its role in African customs cooperation, promoting the harmonization of practices necessary to consolidate and expand intra-African trade.
MK/AK/te/Sf/lb/abj/APA