SON spearheads efforts to harmonize African standards for trade advancement

Published March 11, 2024

NIGERIA – The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is poised to play a pivotal role in fostering trade facilitation and harmonizing standards across Africa through collaboration with its continental counterparts.

With the upcoming African Organisation for Standardisation’s 30th ARSO General Assembly in Abuja, SON aims to unify standards and bolster intra-African trade under the umbrella of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

AfCFTA aims to bring together 1.3 billion people in a US$3.4 trillion economic bloc that will be the largest free trade area since the establishment of the World Trade Organization.

In a statement by SON’s spokesperson, Mrs. Foluso Bolaji, the agency reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with industry stakeholders to synchronize standards during the ARSO General Assembly.

The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) serves as the continental standards body entrusted with promoting intra-African trade and industrial growth through standardized practices. The forthcoming ARSO General Assembly, scheduled to take place in Abuja from June 17 to 21, 2024, at the Abuja International Conference Centre, will serve as a crucial platform for this collaborative effort.

The event will commence with an opening ceremony graced by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Ujoka-Anite, alongside distinguished speakers from both the public and private sectors.

The ARSO General Assembly Expo presents a unique opportunity for businesses, both large and small, to showcase their products and services to a vast audience across Africa and beyond.

It offers a conducive environment for exhibitors to interact with potential customers, foster new partnerships, and strengthen existing relationships, reports Punch.

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