SADC Boosts Trade Capacity in Eswatini Through AfCFTA Rules of Origin Training
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, in partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the World Customs Organisation (WCO), recently conducted a five-day workshop on AfCFTA Rules of Origin in Ezulwini, Eswatini.
Held from 22 to 26 September 2025, the training was supported under the European Union–WCO Rules of Origin Africa Programme and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the GIZ CESARE Programme.
Speaking at the official opening, Ms Lungile Mahlalela, representing the Principal Secretary in Eswatini’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade, welcomed the initiative and thanked all partners, including the EU, GIZ, WCO, AfCFTA, and SADC, for their support.
She highlighted that the training would help the private sector comply with trade rules more smoothly, facilitating efficient cross-border trade and boosting Eswatini’s competitiveness under the AfCFTA.
The workshop brought together around 30 trade and customs officials from Eswatini, providing detailed technical guidance on AfCFTA Rules of Origin. Sessions focused on improving participants’ understanding and application of the rules—an essential step for compliance and unlocking preferential trade benefits under the continental free trade agreement.
Ms Motheba Malibeng, Programme Officer for Regional Trade at the SADC Secretariat, speaking on behalf of Mr Dhunraj S Kassee, Director of Industrial Development and Trade, thanked the Government of Eswatini for its confidence in SADC’s capacity-building efforts.
She noted that the AfCFTA supports the SADC Regional Integration Agenda and aligns with the region’s Industrialisation Strategy, which emphasises developing regional value chains and strengthening the SADC Free Trade Area under the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP).
The EU Ambassador to Eswatini, Mr Karsten Mecklenburg, praised the strong EU–SADC partnership as a cornerstone of regional integration. He acknowledged the WCO’s role in establishing technical foundations for Rules of Origin across Africa through the EU–WCO programme and stressed that the joint efforts of the EU, SADC, WCO, AfCFTA, and GIZ will have a lasting impact on Eswatini’s trade capacity and the wider region.
A practical highlight of the workshop was a site visit to the Fridge Factory, where participants observed production processes firsthand. The visit offered valuable insights into determining originating status under AfCFTA provisions, reinforcing the theoretical knowledge covered during the training.
