ADDIS ABABA – Improving quality assurance service to increase the acceptance of the national products and services globally and getting better value from the export market is important to boost the export performance of the country, says Ethiopian Standards Agency.
Agency General Director Endalew Mekonnen told The Ethiopian Herald that Ethiopian exports are predominated by agricultural produces that contribute to approximately over 70 percent of total exports.
Intervention is needed to improve quality assurance services especially in industry which includes both private and government stakeholders. Furthermore it is needed to strengthen institutional capacity for national quality infrastructure development and enhancing private sector engagement, monitoring, and evaluation.
In addition to adding value to the export items, improving quality assurance service is vital for the sustainable improvement of the national economy and keeping the economy of the country healthier based on quality of products and services which is more important for the overall economic development of the country. Creating awareness through various mechanisms can add value for private-public partnership, he added.
Even though Economic growth in Ethiopia is progressing at an impressive rate, where industrial parks are growing significantly, the quality of products for both domestic and export purposes is becoming critical issue to compete at the continental and global market, Endalew noted.
It is important to take all the necessary actions to improve quality of the products and services, which will create hindrances in export business and earning foreign currency.
Moreover, to be aware of the demand of foreign trade partner will be able to make local producers competitive globally. So that Ethiopian exporters take that opportunity to meet the demand of the foreign market across the globe in broad-spectrum in terms of quality and quantity.
He stated that now we are at the fourth industrial revolution. Improving the quality and quantity of export products of local produces needs time. It is not something that could be achieved overnight, as experience of other countries showed us, said Endalew.
Endalew suggested that in order to improve the quality of exported products that meet the need of global market it is important to create platform which helps to regulate the products quality across the agency level to make competitive globally.
BY HAILE DEMEKE
The Ethiopian Herald Nov 02/2019
