African Countries Step Closer to Harmonising Standards to Boost
Intra-African Trade
African countries are stepping closer to harmonising standards across the continent, a critical move towards removing technical barriers to trade and enabling African products to move more seamlessly across national borders.
The push for common standards took centre stage during the 32nd African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) General Assembly held at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort and Spa in Mombasa. The Assembly brought together standards institutions, policymakers, technical experts and other stakeholders to advance implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through harmonised standards and quality assurance systems.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Lee Kinyanjui, who joined Deputy President H.E. Prof. Kithure Kindiki at the meeting, said harmonisation of standards is essential if Africa is to make the promise of a single continental market a reality.
“Real trade integration means that a product certified in one African country should not face unnecessary technical barriers when entering another African market. Harmonised standards will make trade easier, reduce costs for businesses and give African products access to a much larger market,” he said.
Africa continues to trade significantly more with markets outside the continent than it does internally. Intra-African trade remains comparatively low, highlighting the need to remove barriers that continue to restrict movement of goods between African economies.
The CS said Africa must increasingly “conquer the African market” by expanding production, strengthening value addition and creating an environment in which businesses can sell competitively across borders.
“Harmonisation will open borders for African products and help Africa trade with Africa. That means more markets for our businesses, more wealth creation and ultimately more jobs for Africans,” he said.
Certification Key to SME Growth
The CS particularly underscored the importance of bringing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into national and continental quality assurance systems.
He noted that SMEs account for a significant share of economic activity but many remain unable to fully participate in formal regional and international trade because their products lack the certification required to access larger markets.
“SMEs must be supported to attain certification. We cannot talk about expanding intra-African trade while leaving our small businesses outside the standards and certification ecosystem,” he said.
Certification, he added, gives consumers and buyers confidence in the safety, consistency and quality of products while enabling enterprises to compete beyond their domestic markets.
This will become increasingly important as the AfCFTA expands access to a continental market and African businesses compete for opportunities beyond their traditional national boundaries.
Protect Market Confidence
The CS also challenged standards and quality assurance institutions, including the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), to safeguard the integrity of their certification processes.
“The value of any product in the marketplace depends partly on the integrity and credibility of the institution that has assured its quality. Our standards institutions therefore carry an enormous responsibility,” he said.
Strong quality infrastructure, he noted, is not merely about compliance. It is an important economic enabler that supports manufacturing, exports, consumer confidence and value addition.
Kenya has placed value addition at the centre of its industrialisation agenda, with emphasis on transforming locally produced raw materials into higher-value products that can compete in African and global markets.
The ARSO General Assembly's theme, “Standards Enabling Intra-Africa Trade under the AfCFTA – One Certificate Working for You,” reflects the continental ambition of developing standards and certification systems that can reduce duplication and technical barriers to trade.
The meeting was also attended by ARSO President Botsile Kebapetse, ISO President Dr Khaled Soufi, KEBS Director General Esther Ngari, ARSO officials, representatives of national standards bodies and technical experts from across the continent.
CS Kinyanjui thanked the technical teams involved in advancing harmonised African standards, noting that their work will ultimately determine how effectively the continent translates AfCFTA commitments into actual movement of goods.
“Trade agreements can open the door, but standards determine whether our products can walk through that door. The work being undertaken by our technical teams is therefore central to Africa's economic integration,” he said.