By Antynet Ford
African economies have been encouraged to embrace accurate and internationally accepted measurements to unlock the continent’s economic growth.
Permanent Secretary Trade and Industrialization Juma Mukhwana said there was a need for African economies to standardize their products for intra-Africa trade to thrive and to tap into global trade, and called on Africa to prioritize measurements to boost industrialization
The Principal Secretary spoke at the Argyle Grand Hotel, Nairobi, officially opening the 17th General Assembly of the Intra-Africa Metrology System- AFRIMETS.
He pointed out that despite having the youngest population and abundant raw materials, Africa still relied on foreign markets to supply 85 percent of its manufactured products.
He said Africa needed to develop systems and policies around metrology that can supplement industrialization so that the continent can consume more of what it produces.
The Principal Secretary emphasized the need for accurate and reliable measurements to accelerate and promote industrialization and trade in Africa. “As we develop these measurements, we need to ask ourselves one question, what difference will they make to our people”, PS. Juma posed.
Mukhwana said accurate measurements were the cornerstone of quality infrastructure and have a profound impact on every aspect of our lives, from industry to innovation, commerce to conservation.
He underscored the importance of accurate measurement and monitoring for sustainable growth amid the shift towards sustainable future development.
He pointed out that Africa’s commodity-based economies, heavily reliant on extractives and agricultural exports, cannot thrive without a solid foundation of measurement.
The PS who was accompanied by National Standards Council member Nyaboke Nyabonyi, and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Director of Quality Assurance and Inspection, Geoffrey Muriira, observed that Africa was facing a huge challenge to stay abreast of technological developments and to meet health, safety and sustainable environmental requirements.
He said this directly relates to the continent’s ability to prove measurement equivalence and provide analytical assurances for export products.
Muriira, who was representing the KEBS Managing Director, Esther Ngari, said the organization, as the custodian of the National quality standards, has a broad mandate of offering the most accurate measurements for the country’s developing economy and facilitating sustainability in industrial production.
The Director highlighted the importance of accurate measurements in fostering sustainable development, enhancing quality of life, and ensuring environmental stewardship. He observed that metrology had gained greater significance for the continent as it pushed towards implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to create a single continental market for goods and services and free movement of businesspersons and investments.
Muriira noted that with the appropriate metrology measures, products from Africa will be measured against the same standards as those from other parts of the world, eliminating technical barriers to trade, reducing costs, and enhancing the credibility of African products. This will help open new markets for our goods and services, spurring economic growth and development across the continent.