For information only - not an official document
UNIS/OUS/363
9 December 2016
Re-issued as received
VIENNA/WINDHOEK, 7 December (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has helped Namibia formulate a national policy that will help the country develop its quality infrastructure, conformity assessment, international trade and technical regulatory framework.
The new policy will improve Namibia's international competitiveness and lead to enhanced export performance. It will also support small and medium enterprises (SME) in conforming to national standards and complying with technical regulations, thus contributing to economic growth.
The final document, the National Quality Policy, a result of extensive stakeholder consultations that were supported by UNIDO, was today officially handed over to the office of Immanuel Ngatjizeko, Minister of Industrialization, Trade and SME Development.
UNIDO's assistance was made possible through a project funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
"The National Quality Policy is a single most important move towards setting and strengthening a robust and sustainable Quality Infrastructure System which is key for market integration," said Bernardo Calzadilla-Sarmiento, Director of UNIDO's Trade, Investment and Innovation Department.
"The Quality Infrastructure System contributes to the achievement of the governmental policy objectives in areas including industrial development, trade competitiveness in global markets, food safety, health and environment. This is why the National Quality Policy is one of the most positive and practical steps that a nation can take on the path forward to developing a thriving economy as a basis for prosperity, health and well-being."
Since 2014, UNIDO has supported and facilitated the work of the Namibian National Quality Policy in line with international best practices, and organized a series of consultative workshops in Windhoek, Walvis Bay, Mariental, and Oshakati.
Norad remains a key contributor to the work of UNIDO, with annual contributions averaging NOK 20 million (around USD 2.5 million).
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For more information about UNIDO's project titled "trade capacity-building for exports in Namibia", please see here.
For more information about Norway's contribution to UNIDO, please see here
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For further information, please contact:
Dominika Katarzyna
Dor-Skrobot
UNIDO Industrial Development Officer
Email: D.Dor[at]unido.org
