ARSO holds its 21st General Assembly Meetings.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 12th August 2015 – The African Organisation for Standardization (ARSO) has convened the 21st ARSO General Assembly Meetings in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry of the AUC and the Ethiopian Standards Agency (ESA) in Addis Ababa from 10th to 14th August 2015. Held under the theme “The role of Standards in promoting sustainable Agriculture and food security in Africa”, the gathering aimed to support the African Union Vision on Agriculture that stresses the need to create “dynamic markets within countries and between regions” as part of its agricultural strategy.

The Assembly meetings consisted of the 52nd ARSO Council meeting which reviewed and approved the ARSO programmes; The third (3rd) Africa Day of Standardization annually held on 12th August; And the 21st ARSO General Assembly which provided a platform for the ARSO members and Stakeholders to review the programmes and progress of the Organisation with respect to its mandate, vision and mission.

Representing the host country, Mrs Almaz Kahsay, Director, Ethiopian Standards Agency highlighted that “We are here representing our National Standards Bodies. This means, we are representing our country as an Ambassador related to matters of standards. As you know standards mean not only technical words. Directly and indirectly standards mean economy, standards mean social and standards mean political affairs. So, we are shouldering high responsibility in developing, harmonizing and implementing standards.”

Mr. Hussein Hassan Hussein, AUC Head of Industry recalled that the standards and quality issue is in the core of the Agenda of the African Union Commissioned since its establishment. "It was a dream of our founding fathers to create a continent where people can move freely (with) goods and services across the continent. Fast tracking the creation of a CFTA is the way to go".

“One of the challenges we as Africans are facing is market Access in the globalised world. The Quality of products and services that we offer should conform to the requirements of the buyer. You have the responsibility to create systems that would strengthen the Standards, Conformity Assessment, Metrology and Accreditation at national and regional level.” said the Minister for Science and Technology of the F.D.R. of Ethiopia, H.E. Mrs. Demilu Hambisa in her opening remarks.

Welcoming all participants, the ARSO President Dr. Joseph Odumodu further emphasized that “Total package of institutional and systemic enablers must all be in place. These include the provision of adequate National Quality infrastructure, policy and regulatory frameworks, conducive social, political and economic environment, financial services and support to businessmen and women, locally and across borders.”

The expected Outcomes of the ARSO General Assembly Events are:

- Identified Programmes and Strategies for the implementation of the African Standardisation Agenda in the African Integration.

- Report on the status of Quality Infrastructure in Africa and a stakeholder driven Strategic Work Plan for implementation.

- Development of High Priority Areas in African Standardisation and economic development

- Understanding the benefit of standardisation and the related activities in economic development of Africa

- Strengthen strategic relationship between ARSO and the AUC-DTI on policy issues on Standardisation in Africa and with regard to the implementation of AUC Strategic programmes

/MFM