31st ARSO General Assembly Events

23rd-27th June 2025, Zanzibar Tanzania

Presentations Made during the African Day of Standardisation Forum Sessions 1, 2 and 3.

Session 1: Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Where are we in Standardisation on the implementation of the TBT Annex 6 of the Agreement and what is to be done?

Theme Highlights

• The AfCFTA provisions as per the TBT Annex 6 and SPS Annex 7.
• Leveraging market opportunities under the AfCFTA through the African Coherent Regulatory Framework and Harmonised standards.
• The PAQI initiatives on Coherent Regulatory Framework in the context of the African Quality Policy and the African continental technical regulatory Framework (ACTReF).

Moderator

Ms. Esther Ngari – Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards.

Open/Overview Presentation

Mr. Reuben Gisore, Technical Director, ARSO

Discussants

1. Ms. Poonam Deneswaree Mohin, Head Non-Tariff Measures, – AfCFTA Secretariat.
2. UNECA Official – 
3. Eng. Omneya SABRY, Executive Secretary – AFSEC
4. Mr Mpho Phaloane, Vice-Chair – AFRAC
5. Dr. Henry Kibet Rotich, President – AFRIMETS.

Download Session 1 Presentation

Session 2: The Africa Renewable Energy and leveraging on the benefits of the implementation of the Sustainability standards and Eco Mark Africa certification Scheme.

Theme Highlights

1. Harnessing the Biofuel re-newable Energy as well as the clean cooking fuel opportunities for Africa – Benefits and Challenges.
2. The role of Sustainability standards and Eco Mark Africa certification Scheme.
3. Partnerships and collaboration initiatives.

Moderator

Mr. Reuben Gisore, Technical Director, ARSO

Open/Overview Presentation

Ms. Christine Kalui, Biosafety Desk Officer, Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

Discussants

1. Helge Senkpiel, International Trade Centre (ITC)
2. Intertek Official – 
3. OSP Official – 
4. Zanzibar Bureau of Standards Official – To be Confirmed..
5. Madame NDONGO nee AFANE Danielle, Directeur de l’Evaluation de la Conformité, Agence des Normes et de la Qualité (ANOR)/Cameroon.

Download Session 2 Presentation

Session 3: Creating opportunities for Fair and Just Intra-African and Global Trade and the need for acceptability of Conformity Assessment Results

Theme Highlights

1. Status of Intra-African Trade and the effects of Technical Barriers to Trade and the AfCFTA Opportunities.
2. The Challenge and bottlenecks of different Conformity Assessment Procedures and Results.
3. Leveraging the benefits of cooperation in Conformity Assessment and acceptance of Conformity Assessment Results.
4. The opportunities under the ARSO Dual Marking Scheme.
5. Opportunities under the RECs and PAQI for strengthening Quality Infrastructure in Africa, including the Conformity Assessment.

Moderator

El Hadji Abdourahmane, Directeur Général, Association Sénégalaise de Normalisation (ASN).

Open/Overview Presentation

Ms. Nadine Umutoni, Project Coordinator and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, ARSO/PAQI Joint Committee Coordinator.

Discussants

1. East African Community Secretariat Official.
2. Mr Dhunraj Kassee, Director for Industrial Development and Trade, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Official –
3. Barbara Siegmund, Head of Section Q.35 Sub-Saharan Africa, PTB-Germany.
4. MEHEFOLO KAMARA, Quality Promotion & Infrastructure Expert / ACP-QIP, Competitiveness, Quality and Compliance Unit, Division of MSME Competitiveness, Quality and Job Creation, UNIDO.
5. Wesley Aondo, Country Manager, Kenya and Regional VOC Manager – East and Southern Africa, COTECNA.
6. Togo – Dr. Essot’na Héyou BODJONA, Directeur général de k’Agence Togolaise de Normalisation, (ATN)

Download Session 3 Presentation