Nhlanhla Dube Business Reporter
International standards experts have singled out standardisation of locally manufactured products as a catalyst to the success of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop in Harare on Wednesday, International Organisation for Standardisation expert Mr Jochen Fornather said standards have a role to play in economic growth and development.
“As standards specialists we have a critical role to play in the development of an economy how we can impact economy.
“For instance the Austrian standards body has contributed 2,5 billion Euros towards their economy which is huge margin,” said Mr Fornather.
Speaking at the same event SAZ Director General Mrs Eve Gadzikwa said standards should be fostered for economic growth.
She said there is a similarity in the models used locally to those being used by other countries.
“ISO currently has a project for strengthening its developing country members and its objective is to contribute in improving developing countries’ economic growth and access to global markets at the same time championing for good standards.
“Botswana, Ghana and Senegal are some of the countries which have so far participated in this project,” she said.
Mrs Eve Gadzikwa said the relationship between SAZ and ISO is set to foster standards for the benefit of the economy and society. She said ZimAsset can only be aided by the adoption of standards which are to consumers.
“If standards are implemented, the local consumers can tell if imports are sub standard. It is my wish to work together with ISO relationship in line with its overall vision of making people’s lives faster, easier and better through the use of standards,” she said.
“The need for standards can be observed in all areas of the economic and social well being of the country.”
SAZ quality assurance director Mr Sebastian Zuze said pollution of rivers has also become a cause for concern and standards need to be implemented in that area.
“We need to encourage mining firms to adopt environmental management standards and SAZ is an institution with the mandate to assure international markets that goods produced are up to standard” he said.
He said issues such to do with pollution should fall into every firm’s corporate social responsibility agenda.