State Department for Industry Principal Secretary (PS), Dr. Juma Mukhwana, has encouraged African economies to embrace accurate and internationally accepted measurements, to unlock the continent’s economic potential.
Dr. 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 in order to boost industrialization.
The Principal Secretary spoke at a Nairobi hotel, Thursday, while officially opening the 17th General Assembly of the Intra-Africa Metrology System- AFRIMETS. The General Assembly, whose theme is “Measurement for Sustainability,” has attracted delegates from across the continent.
Dr. Mukhwana pointed out that despite having the youngest population and an abundance of raw material, Africa still relied on foreign markets for the supply of 85 percent of its manufactured products.
He said it was imperative that Africa develops 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.
Dr. 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.
PS pointed out that Africa’s commodity-based economies, heavily reliant on extractives and agricultural exports, cannot thrive without a solid foundation of measurement.
Dr. Mukhwana, who was accompanied by National Standards Council member, Ms. Nyaboke Nyabonyi, and the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) Director of Quality Assurance and Inspection, Dr. 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.
The Principal Secretary, however, expressed optimism that AFRIMETS, through association with the Pan African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI), the African Standards Organisation (ARSO), the Inter-African Cooperation for Accreditation (AFRAC), and the African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission (AFSEC), could facilitate the international linkages to enhance a suitable environment for trade and sustainable development.
Dr. Mukhwana further said that through closer collaboration, African economies can realize industrial growth and progressively eliminate technical barriers to trade, thereby, boosting their exports to the developed world.
He also expressed Kenya’s commitment to measurements and said the country was enacting a National Quality Infrastructure Policy, to establish a legal framework to streamline and enhance the efficiency of the country’s national Standardization, Metrology, and Accreditation matters.
Dr. Muriira, who was representing the KEBS Managing Director, Mrs. 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.
Dr. 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 goods and services, spurring economic growth and development across the continent.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
