Mombasa: The 32nd General Assembly of the African Organisation for Standardization (ARSO) concluded with a significant development as Kenya’s Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, was appointed as the organisation’s Goodwill Ambassador. This appointment recognizes Koskei’s exceptional dedication as a proponent of quality and standardization across Africa.
According to Kenya News Agency, Koskei’s appointment was celebrated during a gala dinner marking the end of the four-day assembly, which saw participation from over 400 representatives across 56 countries. Koskei joins the ranks of distinguished figures such as former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Ameenah Gurib-Fakim of Mauritius, who have been previously acknowledged by ARSO.
Koskei expressed his gratitude and commitment, stating, ‘I accept this responsibility with deep humility and a profound sense of duty. I thank the ARSO Council for its confidence and the Kenya Bureau of Standards for the nomination.’ He emphasized his mission to use his
public service role to promote standardization as a tool for national competitiveness and to advance the One Certificate agenda, aiming to transform mutual recognition into a practical reality for African traders and consumers.
The assembly, themed ‘Standards Enabling Intra-Africa Trade under the AfCFTA: One Certificate Working for You,’ highlighted Africa’s vast market potential. Koskei noted that Africa’s market comprises over 1.4 billion people with a combined GDP of about USD 3.4 trillion. He pointed out the opportunity presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for intra-continental trade, while also acknowledging the challenges posed by varying standards and inspections, which increase business costs and time, especially for SMEs.
Koskei underscored the importance of standards beyond compliance, highlighting their role in opening new markets for farmers, facilitating cross-border trade for manufacturers, and positioning African products in global markets. He asserted that harmonized
standards would allow products certified in one African country to access markets across the continent more seamlessly.
A notable outcome of the assembly was the launch of the Africa Quality Mark (AQM), and a commitment by Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki to allocate land in Nairobi for ARSO headquarters. The AQM, also known as the African Dual Mark, is seen as a crucial tool for reducing trade barriers and boosting intra-African commerce under the AfCFTA.
ARSO, established in 1977, aims to harmonize African standards and conformity assessment to reduce trade barriers and enhance the continent’s industrialization. The AfCFTA, a massive free trade zone, encompasses 55 African Union member states and covers a market of about 1.4 billion people with a GDP of approximately USD 3.4 trillion.
The assembly brought together key voices in Africa’s standards, trade, and industrial development. The harmonized African Standards Certification Mark of Quality aims to allow businesses to test and certify products o
nce for acceptance across all AfCFTA markets, thus facilitating smoother and cost-effective trade across African borders.
Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, Lee Kinyanjui, expressed optimism that the AQM would help Africa dominate its market. He emphasized the need for harmonized standards to facilitate the seamless movement of goods, noting that intra-African trade currently stands at only 17 percent, with up to 70 percent of African trade occurring with markets outside the continent.
KEBS Managing Director Esther Ngari highlighted that a unified standardization system in Africa would spur economic growth by eliminating non-tariff barriers and reducing compliance costs. The AQM will enable a ‘test once, certify once, and sell everywhere’ model, opening more markets and ensuring competitiveness for African products.
Ngari further stated that harmonized standards are crucial for building trust, opening markets, and unlocking opportunities beyond borders. ARSO Secretary-General Dr. Hermo
gene Nsengimana called for a unified standards system to reduce technical barriers, strengthen trust, and enable seamless trade under the AfCFTA.
In summary, Koskei’s appointment and the introduction of the AQM mark a pivotal step towards achieving a more integrated and competitive African market, aligning with ARSO’s mission to promote harmonized standards and facilitate intra-African trade.
