THE 14TH AFRICAN ACCREDITATION CORPORATION SUMMIT KICKS OFF IN NAIROBI

The 14th Summit of the General Assembly of African Accreditation Cooperation (AFRAC) have kicked of earlier today, gathering delegates across the African Continent in Nairobi. The summit's main agenda includes deliberations to set Africa as a borderless continent in its trading activities.

The week long conference, hosted by the Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) aims at discussing how the countries in Africa will have a jurisdiction free zone in carrying out trade activities.

Speaking during the official opening ceremony, the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Dr. Juma Mukhwana stated that there is a need to have permanent remedy on the small size of African industry which is occupying three percent of the whole world.

PHOTO: Principal Secretary State Department for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Dr. Juma Mukhwana addressing delegates at the 14th AFRAC General Assembly Meeting in Nairobi.

“We need more cross-border businesses, so that if you do a factory in one country you are able to access a larger market within Africa for economic sense of growth,” said Mukhwana.

In order to achieve the BETA agenda, the PS said that his ministry has focused more on growing the current investment to Sh220 billion (USD 1.5 billion) from Sh73.9 billion ($500 million).

“Our parent ministry is also focusing on increasing Exports from 10 per cent of GDP to 30 per cent by December 2025 and raise manufacturing contribution to GDP from seven to 15 per cent by 2027 and 20 per cent by 2030,”he added.

The agenda for the AFRAC is packed with discussions and workshops aimed at addressing the unique challenges that will serve as a platform for member organisations to come together to review their progress and chart a course for the future.

The Chief Manager for Inspection and Certification at KENAS Susan Munyiri said that KENAS is hosting the event as a signatory member, and in this case a mutual recognition arrangement signatory at the AFRAC.

"This week, KENAS is hosting the AFRAC General Assembly Meeting, this being it's 14th general assembly meeting and we are going to have a week long of meetings running back on back, culminating into a general assembly on Friday and we are proud to be hosting this event," said Susan.

Susan added that mutual recognition arrangements gives the conformity assessment bodies in Kenya to show the equivalence with other accreditation bodies, that have been accredited by other mutual recognition arrangements signatories.

"Mutual recognition arrangements presents an opportunity for the comformity assessment bodies in Kenya who are accredited by KENAS to demonstrate the equivalence with other accreditation bodies that have been accredited by other mutual recognition arrangements signatories". Susan stated.

PHOTO: Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) Chief Manager Certification and Inspection Susan Munyiri.

Susan further indicated that this will mean that a test report that comes from a lab accredited by KENAS in Kenya is equivalent to a test report by a lab accredited by another mutual recognition arrangements signatories, irrespective of the economy they are operating in, adding that accreditation facilitates trade.

"It is through the mutual recognition arrangements signatories that we reciprocate in terms of acceptance of results across borders and in this case to reciprocate in terms of trade," Susan added.


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