STORY: Rwanda commits to standardization to accelerate domestic products competitiveness
DATELINE: Oct. 13, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:02
LOCATION: Kigali
CATEGORY: ECONOMY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of workers working in factories in Rwanda
2. various of factories in Rwanda
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): EMMANUEL GATERA, National standards division manager at the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Kinyarwanda): JEAN JACQUES NDAYISENGA, Managing director of UFACO Garments Ltd
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JOSE ALCORTA, Head of standards development at ISO

STORYLINE:

Rwanda is strengthening efforts to improve the quality and competitiveness of its products on the global market, which can contribute to economic growth and development in the country.

Emmanuel Gatera, the national standards division manager at the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB), told Xinhua in an interview Monday that since Rwanda became a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2003, the country has significantly increased its active involvement in various standardization activities across different ISO technical committees. Rwanda is represented by the RSB as a member body within ISO.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): EMMANUEL GATERA, National standards division manager at the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB)
"Actually standardization, it is a journey. It has been a very long journey and we are still working on standardization and how it can play an important role in promoting trade. Rwanda has adopted the move of adopting standardization and conformity assessment services to make sure that the private sector is positioned in a way that our SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises), our industry, our service providers are positioned in international trade. So that is why we are working so hard."

Jean Jacques Ndayisenga, managing director of UFACO Garments Ltd, a local garment company, told Xinhua in an interview that ISO standards have boosted the sales of their products.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Kinyarwanda): JEAN JACQUES NDAYISENGA, Managing director of UFACO Garments Ltd
"Obtaining an ISO certification is highly meaningful to us. Firstly, it has improved our reputation significantly. Secondly, it has fostered trust among our clients, who now have confidence in the reliability and quality of our work. Additionally, it has expanded our market opportunities, both private and governments institutions. As a result, we've witnessed a significant increase in our daily sales."

Ndayisenga said that product certification has elevated his company's brand name, leading to increased sales because when people know that the company is certified, it boosts its credibility.

Currently, Rwanda is hosting the 40th meeting of the ISO/TC 176 quality management systems and quality assurance from Oct. 9-13, which discusses trends and challenges related to quality management and quality assurance standards and their role in achieving the global sustainable development agenda.

Jose Alcorta, head of standards development at ISO, told Xinhua on the sidelines of the 40th meeting of the ISO/TC 176 that Rwanda is playing an active role in adhering to ISO standards through standardization and other related programs.

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): JOSE ALCORTA, Head of standards development at ISO
"It's about mutual recognition. Mutual recognition is going to be key because there is the trust of the use of community that the products and services will offer. Those benefits of safety, and good use, and being leading in the market for the manufacturer, again, those are obvious benefits for exports, saving costs for not having to go through different testing and tariffs, as I mentioned, to enter into different countries."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Kigali.
(XHTV)