The Swedish National Board of Trade has organized two one-year capacity building programmes during 2011-2012, in the areas of Rules of Origin and Trade Facilitation. The programmes are directed toward the SACU countries. In November 2011, a two weeks training were conducted in Stockholm, Sweden in the respective subject area. In total, 29 policy-makers, trade and customs advisors and private sector representatives visited Sweden for capacity building, networking and sharing of experiences.

The next step of the Training Programme was the regional phase that took place in Cape Town from 26-30 March 2012. The regional phase was organized in cooperation with tralac, whose regional perspective on the respective subject area is crucial added value in the programme.

The African delegates have since October 2011 been working on Change Projects in the area of Rules of Origin and Trade Facilitation, which are to be developed and implemented in the delegate’s home organisation during the year and in the near future. The Change Projects are essentially taking focus on revising current legislation, developing national training programmes or analyzing relevant trade issues of the organisation’s needs.

The long-term aim of the Training Programmes is to strengthen and support developing countries’ capacity to participate in regional and international trade by increasing participants’ managerial and technical skills on the mentioned trade topic.