ECOWAS Holds Consultative Meeting Towards Regional Quality Infrastructure

06/11/2017 Harouna MAYAKI

GROUP PHOTOGRAPH Mr. Franck Okafor, representing, EU_ Mr. Francis Alaneme, Representative of the Minister of Industry, Nigeria_ Mr. Kalilou Traore, ECOWAS Commissioner for Industry and Private S

Abuja, 6^th November 2017. The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in collaboration with the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have moved to support structures for Regional Quality Infrastructure by convening a consultative meeting in order to develop a Regional Accreditation System (RAS).

Mr. Kalilou Traore, ECOWAS Commissioner for Industry and Private Sector

The Commissioner for Industry and Private Sector Promotion of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Kalilou Traore, in his opening remarks of a four –day meeting which commenced on 6^th November 2017 in Abuja Nigeria, highlighted the importance of quality infrastructure.

The Commissioner stated that ‘quality infrastructure will strengthen the business environment by providing our region with the means to improve the supply of products and services and to ensure customer protection’.

Hence the commissioner noted steps taken to align Regional Quality Infrastructure with the best international standards. “Amongst others, ECOWAS has developed a National Quality Policy which includes plans and action matrices in all Member States” He added.

Also, Mr. Frank Okafor who represented the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS Mr. karlsen Ketil, mentioned that, following the June 2017 adoption of the regulation relating to the operation & functioning of the community council, the community committees, the Regional Accreditation System as well as the setting up of the ECOWAS Agency for Quality (ECOWAQ) by the council of Ministers, the program has progressively reached a threshold of sustainability and impact.

He highlighted that, the EU has contributed to the process of building a quality culture in West Africa through funding of more than 50 million euro, over the last seventeen years, and will provide additional funds for regional quality infrastructure programmes.

To this end, Dr.Francis Alaneme, who represented the Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr.Okechukwu Enelamah, encouraged ECOWAS, Member States and partners to continue to participate fully in the development of the accreditation process as it will guarantee an efficient, sustainable and wealth-creating conformity assessment system in the region.

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