Trade Promotion through Standardisation in East Africa and South & Southeast Asia

Today, many retailers and consumers on the global markets demand that products and services are produced according to international standards. International standards can therefore function as a key for trade and influence on the world market. A nations’ ability to work with standardisation can affect its competitiveness and national growth. By many developing countries international standards have not been seen as tools for trade promotion, but rather as trade barriers. This partly due to lack of ability and knowledge about the possibilities of active participation to influence in the development of international standards. As a result international standards have in many cases not been adjusted to the conditions and needs of developing countries. In order to decrease the risks of getting international standards that are causing trade barriers, the developing countries need to be actively participating in the development of new international standards.

SIS has in cooperation with South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), CUTS Hanoi Resource Centre and the East African Community (EAC) launched two new projects for the period 2012-2014 on “Trade promotion through standardisation”. Eight countries from South and South East Asia and five from East Africa are participating in the projects. The projects build on previous collaborations and experiences on capacity building within standardisation in the regions and are supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). For more information about the projects >>

International Training Programme

International Training Programme (ITP) ”Quality Infrastructure Development in Support of World Trade

”Sida is supporting a number of International Training Programs with focus on sustainable capacity- and institution building for participants from low and middle income countries within prioritised sectors. The methodology used is adjusted to the participants need and priorities that are mentioned in their application forms. The participants must be in a position where they can drive a reform process, preferable within their own organisation.

In collaboration with Anrika Quality Services AB (AQS), SIS is conducting an international training program, for participants from prioritised regions in the world. SIS is responsible for conducting a series of lectures and organizing study visits with focus on standardisation and quality management. During SIS part of the course (four days), the participants get a basic understanding of international standards; why they excist, who uses them, how they can support trade and trade opportunities, what role they play in the national quality infrastructure system but also more general knowledge about ISO, its procedures and objectives, how to be active and participate in the process.