The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) has called for accelerated adoption of harmonised standards and a coherent regulatory framework to enhance intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).  

This appeal was made by ARSO President, Prof. Alex Dodoo, during the opening ceremony of the 31st ARSO General Assembly at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Zanzibar, Tanzania, last Wednesday.

The week-long event, on the theme: “Accelerating Fair and Just Trade in Africa under the AfCFTA through an African Coherent Regulatory Framework and Harmonised Standards,” brought together government officials, trade experts, and representatives from international organisations to strategise on boosting Africa’s economic integration.  

Self-Reliance

In his keynote address, Prof. Dodoo stressed the need for Africa to break free from dependency on foreign powers and embrace homegrown solutions.

Drawing inspiration from founding African leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah, Julius Nyerere, and Nelson Mandela, he urged the continent to act swiftly in leveraging the opportunities presented by AfCFTA.  

“Where there are no standards, there is no trade, no manufacturing, and no economy. And where there is no economy, there are no jobs, our societies and future generations suffer,” he stated.  

Prof. Dodoo expressed concern over the slow progress of intra-African trade despite AfCFTA’s operationalisation five years ago.

He emphasised that harmonised standards and mutual recognition agreements would eliminate technical barriers, reduce redundant testing, and lower trade costs, key factors in enhancing commerce across the continent.  

Economic promise of AfCFTA

Highlighting the transformative potential of AfCFTA, Prof. Dodoo noted that intra-African trade could increase by $35 billion annually.

He projected that Africa’s market could grow to $2.5 trillion in household consumption and $4.2 trillion in business-to-business trade by 2030. By 2060, the continent’s GDP could reach $16 trillion, with a population of 2.75 billion.  

He underscored the importance of standardisation, as outlined in AfCFTA’s Annexes on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, in ensuring seamless trade integration.  

The assembly also celebrated Tanzania’s pivotal role in Africa’s liberation and economic blueprints, including the Lagos Plan of Action (1980), Abuja Treaty (1991), and Agenda 2063.

Prof. Dodoo commended the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and Zanzibar Bureau of Standards (ZBS) for hosting the event, reaffirming Tanzania’s commitment to trade harmonisation.  

Prof. Dodoo acknowledged the support of partners such as PTB Germany, BSI, UNIDO, Afreximbank, and the African Union in advancing Africa’s standardisation agenda.

He also welcomed Botsile Kebapetse, the incoming ARSO President for the 2025-2029 term, urging him to steer the organisation towards greater continental and global recognition.