NAIROBI, KENYA – [July 2, 2025]
The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) is pleased to announce the official inauguration of Mr. Botsile Kebapetse as the Sixteenth (16) ARSO President, effective June 2025. Mr. Kebapetse, a national of Botswana, will serve a three-year term, concluding in June 2028, taking over the mantle from the esteemed Prof. Alex Dodoo from Ghana. The handover ceremony took place during the recently held 31st ARSO General Assembly in Zanzibar, Tanzania and marks a significant moment for the Organisation as it continues to champion Standardisation across the African continent.
Mr. Botsile Kebapetse, also serving as the Managing Director, Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS), is an accomplished leader in the field of Standardisation, and brings a wealth of experience and a clear vision to both ARSO and the Africa’s Standardisation Agenda, which has remain recognized in the major African Union Economic Blue Prints, including the 1980 Lagos Plan of Action, the 1991 Abuja Treaty, and currently Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. His presidency is poised to further strengthen ARSO’s mandate of harmonising African standards and conformity Assessment procedures and promoting their implementation to foster intra-African and Global trade, industrialisation, and sustainable economic growth, under the AfCFTA, which, already signed by 54 out of 55 African Countries, and ratified by 48 countries, 38 of which are ARSO, including Botswana, has reinforced the opportunities to effectively address the issues and challenges of Technical Barriers to Trade/TBTs Measures (e.g. variant standards and regulations, Conformity Assessment (testing, inspection and certification) procedures), and sanitary and phytosanitary/SPS (e.g. food safety and animal and plant health standards) under the TBT Annex 6 and SPS Annex 7, which have for a long time affected intra-Africa Trade and the Africa’s industrialisation and Integration Agenda.
Mr. Botsile takes over the ARSO Leadership when the environment in which ARSO is currently operating in, under its 2022-2027 Strategic Plan adopted in June 2022, continues to evolve, with greater expectations on ARSO and its leadership (including the strategic role of the ARSO President) while focusing on the drive towards increased standards harmonisation to meet the required AfCFTA Tarif lines; facilitation of Quality Culture in Africa with increased focus on strengthening Quality Infrastructure and common regulatory Framework in Africa as per the adopted African Union African Quality Policy (AQP, in 2022), African Continental Technical Regulation Framework (ACTReF, in 2024), and the need for aligning the Quality Policies at the National and Regional levels; Strengthening the Conformity Assessment to serve the interest of African industries, farmers, producers and consumers and aligning Africa to universal Sustainability policy agenda with the Eco Mark Africa and in accordance to SDG 2030 and the AU 2063 Agenda, and the emerging sustainability regulations such as the EU Deforestation Regulation;
In his inaugural address, President Kebapetse expressed his profound gratitude for the trust placed in him by the ARSO member states expressing his readiness and commitment for the responsibilities of the Office of the ARSO President, highlighting that “It is with immense honor and a deep sense of responsibility that I accept this presidency,”. “I am committed to building upon the commendable achievements of my predecessor, Prof. Alex Dodoo, and working tirelessly with all stakeholders and Member States to elevate the impact of Standardisation in Africa,” he stated.
President Kebapetse outlined his key priorities for the next three years, which include:
- Enhancing the development and adoption of harmonised African standards to facilitate seamless trade and market access within Africa and under the AfCFTA.
- Supporting member states in building robust conformity assessment bodies and related National Quality Infrastructure aligned to Best National Practices, to ensure the quality and safety of products and services, traded in Africa.
- Leveraging technology to streamline standardisation processes and improve accessibility to ARSO resources.
- Forging stronger partnerships and collaboration with regional economic communities, international Standardisation bodies, and the private sector to amplify ARSO’s influence and programmes.
- Educating stakeholders through Awareness and Capacity Building on the critical role of Standardisation in achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063 aspirations.
- Working with member States to promote Africa’s influence in the international Standardisation and leadership and ensure that Africa’s priorities and interests are addressed, while also mobilizing all African countries for a total universal membership in ARSO.
The Immediate Former President, Prof. Alex Dodoo, in his handover speech, congratulated Mr. Kebapetse and expressed his full confidence in his leadership, noting that “It has been a privilege to serve ARSO and contribute to its growth,”. “I extend my warmest congratulations to President Kebapetse and offer my full support. I am confident that under his guidance, ARSO will reach new heights in its mission to advance Africa’s development through Standardisation,” said Prof. Dodoo.
The inauguration of President Kebapetse signifies a new chapter for ARSO, with a renewed focus on leveraging Standardisation as a cornerstone for Africa’s economic integration and prosperity, where already 2440 African standards have been harmonised, a 25% of the total required under the AfCFTA Tarrif lines. Therefore, the ARSO Fraternity looks forward to a productive and impactful tenure under his leadership.
About ARSO: The African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) is Africa’s intergovernmental organisation established by the African Union (AU) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in 1977. Its primary mandate is to harmonize African standards and Conformity Assessment procedures to promote intra-Africa and Global Trade, industrialisation, and sustainable economic growth.
About BOBS: The Botswana Bureau of Standards (BOBS) is the national standards body of Botswana, established under the Standards Act of 1995. It operates as a parastatal organization under the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry.
Contact: Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana, Secretary General, ARSO;
Email: arso@arso-oran.org Website: www.arso-oran.org