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Originally published by The Standard BusinessSeptember 9, 2026
2h ago
Countries shift focus on standardisation to drive intra-African trade
Kenya and other African countries have intensified efforts to adopt and implement harmonised standards to boost exports and imports among themselves. ..
✨ Key Highlights
African nations are prioritizing the adoption of harmonized standards to eliminate technical trade barriers and boost intra-African trade, a move seen as crucial for the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
- Intra-African trade currently stands at approximately 16 percent, highlighting the need for standardization.
- The African Organization for Standardisation (ARSO) is spearheading efforts to accelerate the harmonisation of over 2,700 existing standards, aiming for a "one standard, one test, one certificate" principle across the continent.
- Key figures like Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) Managing Director Esther Ngari and ARSO Secretary General Dr Hormogen Nsengimana emphasize that harmonised standards will reduce costs and delays for manufacturers, allowing products certified in one African country to access other markets seamlessly.
- Despite progress, a significant gap remains as harmonised standards currently cover only about 28 percent of submitted tariff lines under AfCFTA, and 10 African countries are yet to join ARSO.
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