Attendees at the Conference of African Ministers of Industry recently affirmed the role of international standards and conformity assessment in helping to develop commerce in Africa. The conference produced a formal report, in which it “reiterate[s] the commitment of our governments and call[s] on our development partners to urgently strengthen African standardization and conformity assessment infrastructure, and increase standards harmonization in Africa, at the national, regional and continental levels.” It urges international standards-developing agencies, including the International Organization for Standardization, International Laboratory Accreditation Council and International Accreditation Forum, to help with the process.

Organized by the Egyptian government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, in cooperation with the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the three-day meeting was attended by 250 delegates. Discussions revolved around three themes: adding value sustainability to African products, improving industrial performance and competitiveness though conformity to standards, and ways to improve productive capacity.

 …