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Thursday, June 26, 2014

Pan-African Quality Infrastructure

The cryptic abbreviation MSTQ, SQAM, or SMCA have gradually been substituted by the  "quality infrastructure"-concept.  During a long time ARSO, the African Organization for Standardization, founded in 1977, attempted to cover all of the components of a quality infrastructure. From 2007 on new African organizations have been created:
  • AFRIMETS The Intra-Africa Metrology System, founded 2007
  • AFSEC The African Electrotechnical Standardization Commission, founded 2008
  • AFRAC The African Accrediatation Cooperation, founded 2010
In August 2013 the four African organizations have established the Pan-African Quality Infrastructure, PAQI. On its web site the PAQI states that a well coordinated and integrated Pan-African Quality Infrastructure will boost both intra-African and Global trade, which could foster the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

A PAQI Joint Committee Secretariat is hosted at the ARSO Central Secretariat in Nairobi, Kenya. PAQI Joint Committee Chairperson is Dr. Hermogène Nsengimana, ARSO Secretary General.