Egypt's Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir asserted that Cairo supports establishing an internationally recognized African accreditation system as an essential pillar for developing intra-trade within the continent.
The system also seeks to increase the competitiveness of Africa's exports to various global markets, increase international trade rates, and meet the aspirations of consumers.
The Minister pointed out that Egypt is keen to activate the African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) role in the African countries and establish accreditation bodies throughout the continent that contribute to bringing the technical differences between services and products closer.
The Minister spoke at the opening session of the African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) general assembly meetings, which Egypt hosts between Sept. 26 and 30.
The meetings are attended by AFRAC's chairperson Ron Josias, Chairman of the Pan African Quality Infrastructure (PAQI) Celestine Okanya, Executive Director of the National Council for Accreditation Hany el-Dessouki, and several representatives of African accreditation bodies.
The Minister said that the accreditation culture had become tangible in Africa after AFRAC covered all parts of the continent and obtained international recognition from the International Cooperation Organization for Laboratory Accreditation (ILAC) and the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).
The Minister said that the organization represents a pillar for cooperation and development of the infrastructure for quality and accreditation in the African continent, of its essential role in integrating African peoples and facilitating intercontinental and global trade.
Samir explained that the Ministry had taken vigorous steps to improve the quality of products and services to increase Egyptian exports to global markets.
The Ministry and related bodies implemented many initiatives to achieve compatibility between Egyptian and international standards and obtain international recognition for the Egyptian accreditation system from international organizations.
Samir added that achieving economic integration has become an urgent necessity imposed by the successive international changes in the global financial system.
The opening session of the general assembly meetings of the African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) in Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
