Maihapa Ndjavera
The European Union (EU)-funded twinning project, titled ‘Providing support to the Namibia Standards Institution (NSI)’, together with its partners and the industrialisation and trade ministry, on Tuesday hosted the first-ever EU/Namibia Quality Infrastructure Forum in Windhoek.
Sinikka Antila, EU Ambassador to Namibia, said quality infrastructure not only protects consumers, their health and the environment, but it is also essential for countries to become globally competitive, attract investment and develop innovative products and services.
“The government’s role in this is to develop quality infrastructure, promoting the use of metrology, setting up national measurement systems to protect both consumers and businesses – and overall, establishing consumer business and international confidence in the country’s measurement results,” said Antila.
The objective of the forum was to provide knowledge about how different (elements) of the quality infrastructure system are beneficial and crucial in achieving short and long-term economic development, social well-being and emancipating global trade.
Implemented under the financing agreement in support of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Implementation Plan in Namibia, the EU Twinning Project commenced in February 2022, with the industrialisation and trade ministry as well as the NSI being the main beneficiaries.
The EU ambassador stated the EU started assisting Namibia through the EPA, and they are currently busy with a tender evaluation of laboratory equipment for the NSI to improve quality infrastructure and services.
“I believe the importance of calling for quality infrastructure for Namibia lies in two areas. Firstly, it raises the quality of products and services safeguarding health and safety – and, in this manner, it increases the standards
of living in Namibia. Secondly, building quality infrastructure enhances the quality and value of Namibia’s exports,” Antila added.
Thus, she noted, it is an important instrument for accessing high-income markets and increasing export incomes for the country. This initiative corresponds well with the National Quality Policy (NQP), which is currently being implemented by the Namibian government through the NSI.
At the same event, the executive director of the trade ministry, Sikongo Haihambo, said the forum will increase participants’ understanding of how important quality infrastructure is to the effective promotion of quality products and services, as well as the significance of quality infrastructure
in facilitating access to international
markets.
“Namibia will, without a doubt, build a strong foundation for the development and enhancement of new and existing
partnerships to international trade agreements to boost the market environment, which will contribute to the country’s national agenda, including Vision 2030 and the national development plans,” said Haihambo.
The forum brought together a group of quality infrastructure governance bodies and experts from Europe and Namibia, who are all involved in standardisation activities, conformity assessments and
quality assurance services.